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Is there more on your to-do list than there is time to do it? Just because the world is moving at a break-neck pace does not mean you have to. As Lily Tomlin reminded us: "Even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat." Mistakes and accidents are more often a result of moving too fast. Most situations call for more time and patience than we plan for. Besides, most of us want a deeper life, not a faster one. 

 Bamboo Rule: Bamboo Farmers wait years for growth; all worthy success requires it.

Here are seven ideas to help you slow down and live a deeper, more meaningful life: 

1. Say "no" with a smile on your face. Watch out for scope creep, and be willing to renegotiate agreements and schedules. Make sure another person's lack of planning and preparation does not become your problem.
2. Put yourself on the agenda. Much like the flight attendant reminds us: "Put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others."
3. When evaluating your to-do list, ask yourself "What's Important Now?" - W.I.N.
4. Create a 'do-not-do' list. For example: I do not work on Sundays.
5. While the world is moving too fast, be sure to: Stop, look & listen.
6. Take a retreat. Tuning out is just as important as tuning in. Refresh.
7. Choose how you wait. We all have lines to wait in; make it a time to breathe and think.

For more ideas about slowing down, read Chapter 21 Busy But Balanced in Water The Bamboo^®: Unleashing The Potential Of Teams And Individuals.

It’s the first day of Spring, so what better time to do some Spring cleaning? All of us carry around things we no longer need, that no longer serve us or our bamboo. For a Bamboo Farmer, these unnecessary things are weeds. Now is the time to clear the clutter and remove the weeds that are getting in the way of your goals and dreams. Each of us only has so much time and energy, so it’s important to put that time and energy into our bamboo.

“A little perspective, like a little humor, goes a long way.” ~ Allen Klein

Recently, I got caught up in the storms on the east coast and was inconvenienced by a delayed flight. While we were sitting on the runway, the pilot came on the loud speaker and explained we would be delayed yet another hour. I knew I would miss my connecting flight and my meeting in Toronto.

I took a deep breath and listened to the people around me complain about what they were going to miss. The woman next to me was frustrated because she was going miss a shopping trip.

All of the complaining was put in to perspective when I overheard a woman on her cell phone weeping to her mom how she was not going to make it to her dad’s funeral because of the delayed flight. My missed meeting and the missed shopping trip were immediately put into perspective. No matter how frustrated you get, there are always different ways of looking at your circumstances.

Bamboo Rule: Be flexible like bamboo, it bends in the storm and bounces back.

To learn more about how you can change your perspective, read Chapter 11, Lighten Up in Water The Bamboo^®: Unleashing The Potential Of Teams And Individuals.