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M o n d a y M o t i v a t i o n W i t h M i k e #54

Man oh man, what a topic to broach!

It’s no secret today’s world is full of pings and dings from endless notifications, with more distractions than ever, where 'hustle' is celebrated and our worth is too often measured by the length of our to-do lists.

'Mind-full' or 'Mindful'

Aesthetically, to the eyes and ears, the difference is close to nothing, yet philosophically, to the heart and soul, the words are worlds apart.

A full mind is often lost in its cluttered chaos while mindfulness is the peace you find in the chaos, the slow-motion button in a fast-forward world.

Can we please dismantle the myth that to be productive, our minds must be full?

Please?!

A mind full of regrets from past shortcomings, anxiety from future deadlines, an ever-growing list of present obligations, and everything in between— all fighting for our attention leads to nothing productive. At least not internally. Instead, we’re:

• Increasing our stress

• Diminishing our focus

• Heightening overwhelmed feelings

We’re also less connected, as a whole, to our loved ones than ever before which is wild considering our constant “connectivity”…
Don’t let that one go over your head.

Unless, of course, you’re self aware and remain mindful, or at least practice moments of mindfulness.

Here's where we flip the script:

It starts with self awareness and ends with intention.
Read that again.

1. 🔥Set Your Daily Intentions. Every morning, declare how you want to experience your day (Sound familiar? I mention the importance of morning routines in damn near every newsletter, go check out my first mention of the importance of morning routines here).

   • ⛵️A calm sea never made a skilled sailor, but a sailor who only knows storms will forever remain lost (at sea), never grounding (pun intended) himself in mindfulness.

2. 🔥Single-Tasking - “Multi-tasking isn’t just bad for your productivity, its also bad for your mental health.” Do one thing at a time today. Multi-tasking is a myth, a circus act.

   • 🎪Be the ringmaster, not the clown juggling tasks.

3. 🔥Gratitude Check-in - Nothing grounds you in the present like gratitude. Throughout the day, no matter where you are, pause in that moment to mindfully think of things you’re grateful for. The warmth of the sun, the soft texture of fabric, the little intricacies in a loved one's voice

   • 🙏Gratitude is the express lane from mind-full to mindful.

4. 🔥Put your phone away. No, I mean really put it away. One of the most important times I do this is when I pull into my driveway. Before I walk into my home, I put my phone in my bag, away, and have a deliberate, mindful talk with myself about greeting my family, one by one. I kiss each of my kids along with my wife and begin a conversation with them.

   • 📵Don’t be on your phone when you pick your kids up, from school, practice, etc— and get them out of that habit now, too, before its too late.

As we get better at being present, we'll notice a shift. Monday won't just be a countdown to Friday; it'll be its own opportunity. Projects become puzzles to solve, not burdens to bear. Conversations turn into connections, not just exchanges.

And the best part? The world around you feels it when you're genuinely there. You inspire mindfulness in others simply by embodying it.

And that’s not even mentioning how you’ll also:

• Reduce stress

• Improve emotional regulation

• Strengthen relationships

• Enhancing overall quality of life

The paradox of mindfulness is that by emptying, we gain fullness. By anchoring ourselves in the present, we navigate life's waves not just with endurance, but with grace.

Moving forward, from this moment on, may your thoughts be calm and your actions deliberate. May your moments be many and your breaths more mindful. Cheers, and happy Monday, y’all.

And please never forget:

Your words, tone, and delivery have consequences. So be mindful of what you say, how you say it, and who you say it to!

Much love mi gente,

- Mike O’Hara

PS

The more mindful you are, the more present you are, the more present you are the more welcoming you make your presence. And when people feel welcome in your presence— not like a burden or an inconvenience— that’s when you start having a lasting impact and leaving a lasting legacy.

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