Last night I couldn’t sleep and I realized that I was thinking on such a remarkably, unproductive “macro” level. I then forced myself to slow down and think on a “micro” level.

I couldn’t possibly solve problems, get tasks completed or really do anything at 1:00am lying next to my snoring husband and sleeping cat.  What was required was to rest and restore myself. 

So I created a visualization to think BIG for just a minute and then picture something SMALL that gave me a much better perspective and allowed my brain to settle down.  The first thing that came to mind was the magnolia that is blooming in my backyard now.  It sounds so simple, but it actually was very useful and I quickly fell asleep.

I know that I often get caught in not only thinking too BIG, but thinking too FAST as well.  When I slow down my thoughts I gain much greater insight and think so much clearer.

Just like every other muscle we try to strengthen this too will require some discipline.  In a world that is always telling us to speed up I think our best defense is to slow down and smell the magnolia blossoms.