Stop and . . .

Recently, I had an interesting experience that changed the way I will think about things in the future. I frequently go for a walk at lunch to the Canal Park area of Duluth, MN. Usually, on these walks, I take in the waterfront and Lake Superior. I enjoy the smells of the many restaurants and enjoy watching the tourists as they meander from shop to shop. This was my usual experience and I looked forward to my walks. This was about to change.

As I was getting ready to head out on one of my walks, Donna, one of my coworkers was looking at my new camera, and asked if I ever took pictures of flowers. Then she commented, “You’re really not a flower person are you?” My response was that I wasn’t a flower person, but that I would try to find a flower to take a picture of.

As I approached Canal Park, I was stunned. There were flowers everywhere. My first thought was, when did they plant all these flowers? They were everywhere. They must be new, because I never noticed them before. As I took pictures, I noticed something else, the smell of the flowers. I had heard the quote, “Take time to smell the roses,” but obviously never took it seriously. I hadn’t even taken the time to see the roses, let alone smell them. Wow! I was in a new world.

As I continued to take pictures, I then noticed and heard the bees, butterflies and other birds and insects floating around. I had to sit down and think about everything I was seeing, smelling and hearing. It was a completely different experience.

Why? Because I was focusing on something different, I was having a different experience. Interesting! How many times in life do we do the same things over and over again; the same foods, the same steps, the same route to work, the same goals, and the same results?

If we want different results, we must change the way we think, the things we do, and the things we focus on. If I can have this profound experience just on a lunch time walk, what could I accomplish in my life if I focus on the task at hand in a different way? I’m looking forward to other breakthroughs as I practice this in business, and in life.

If you are stuck with a challenge, can you look at it in a different way? Ask for others opinions. Do your research differently. Use a different Search Engine. Ask different questions. If you are not sure, just try something different. 

I encourage all of us to look at our challenges with a different focus.  This just may give us an unseen breakthrough to unseen results. I also thank Donna for giving me something new to focus on and teaching me such a valuable lesson. Don’t just stop and smell, stop and see, then ask, “What can I focus on to change this experience?”