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Is anyone else bombarded by social media messages to set goals, make New Year’s resolutions, or create a bucket list for 2024? I sure have been. In my pre-<a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/what-is-als/">ALS</a> days, I heeded the reminders. I looked forward to breaking in a brand-new desk calendar and filling it with my activities and goals for the coming year. Heck, I even had three- and five-year goals. But now, like most other ALS patients, I plan my life one month at a time.
However, I have found success with a unique twist on goal-setting, a practice I began at the beginning of 2022. <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/my-2022-new-years-intention-simply-be/">I challenged myself to simply be</a>. To be in the present moment, to be aware of myself and the people and things around me. And to not get pulled into the distractions or negative vibes I might encounter.
A simple intention, and one that I soon discovered to be a darn difficult thing to accomplish.
[recommended-reading id=86132]
<h3>What happened?</h3>
Lest you think I spent the year of my personal challenge leisurely swinging in a hammock, or that my face held a perpetual Zen monk’s grin, distractions were constant and everywhere. But I was determined to keep at it another year, so I created several small strategies to help me get through 2023.
Recalling my days as a former yoga instructor, I incorporated the <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/life-with-als-is-about-balance-effort-ease/">concept of effort and ease</a>. If I felt frustrated by how much effort was needed to do even simple things, I’d find solutions to make them easy again. An electric toothbrush and Velcro closures on my shoes conserved the energy in my hands. This meant I could use my hands for my favorite activities, like knitting or typing <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/living-well-with-als-dagmar-munn/">this column</a>. The time spent doing enjoyable things was time I didn’t spend distracted thinking about my ALS.
When I began worrying that time was slipping away and I wasn’t keeping up with productive projects, I <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/how-ive-benefited-from-finding-flow-with-my-als/">explored the mental state of flow</a>. Whenever I noticed that I&#8217;d lost focus or wasn’t paying attention, I used personal flow awareness practices to bring my mind into the present moment.
Finally, because so many who <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/living-with-als-2/">live with ALS</a> expect things to go wrong and so focus on the negative, I decided to begin noticing <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/when-things-go-right-my-week-living-with-als/">when things went well</a>. In between the usual daily calamities and near calamities, I looked for moments of calm. There were so many more than I&#8217;d anticipated. What a gift not to miss these gems hiding all around me. 
<h3>End-of-year results</h3>
Was it worth it? You bet it was. I credit these strategies with helping me achieve more time being mindful and in the present moment. I felt less stressed, stopped unnecessary worry, and maintained a positive attitude about my life.
The funny thing was that I realized my simple intention transformed itself into a full-fledged goal and is now a permanent part of my day. That’s how just one small change, one small step of daily progress, can become a habit.
Try setting an intention to &#8220;simply be.&#8221; It’s one more strategy that will help you learn how to live well with ALS.
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Note: <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/">ALS News Today</a> is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/als-diagnosis/">diagnosis</a>, or <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/approved-treatments-for-als/">treatment</a>. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.

How setting an intention to ‘simply be’ became an ALS goal

I’ll admit I often worry if I’m being productive with my time and spending it wisely. That&#8217;s always been important to me, but it intensified the day I was told I had <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/what-is-als/">ALS</a>. That&#8217;s when I heard the words “average life expectancy of two to five years” and left the doctor’s office with the eerie feeling that time was slipping away, much too fast.
At home, like many ALS patients, I made endless bucket lists and goals, and I felt guilty when taking much-needed breaks and doing nothing. “I should be doing something!” I’d remind myself, thinking of time going fast. But instead, ALS made my movements slow and my energy even lower, and I entered the <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/als-slow-lane-cruise-through-life/">slow lane of ALS</a>.
My concerns became clear: How do I do what I want without running out of steam? How can I be productive even during my downtimes? How can I not waste time?
[recommended-reading id=85075]
<h3>Flow to the rescue</h3>
In 2010, two years after his book was published and in the first year of my ALS, I read &#8220;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061339202" rel="nofollow">Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience</a>&#8221; by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and my perspective changed. I read that it doesn’t matter if our physical self is less than perfect; mentally, emotionally, and spiritually we can all challenge ourselves in the voluntary effort to accomplish something worthwhile. And that voluntary effort was the state of flow. It’s also called  “in the zone,” “in the groove,” or “losing track of time.”
Sign me up!
Over the next several years I explored more about flow and began blending it into my life. Not only did I practice finding the state of flow when writing my columns and big projects, but I also applied flow awareness to the small moments as well: walking across the room, eating, conversations, even riding in the car.
I realized that being aware of the small moments between events made those moments just as important. I wasn’t wasting time. I was being productive after all.
<h3>How to flow?</h3>
There are many <a href="https://www.betterup.com/blog/flow-state" rel="nofollow">positive benefits</a> to finding flow, and many tips for how to get into it.
I suggest you begin with a simple awareness exercise. <a href="https://alsandwellness.blogspot.com/2017/04/how-to-focus-pay-attention-mindfulness.html">One that&#8217;s worked for me</a> when I notice I&#8217;m not focused, not paying attention, and not present is to jar myself into presence by quickly noticing five things around me, the sensory details in my immediate surroundings. Then, once &#8220;awake,&#8221; I try to stay in that awareness, in the moment, in flow.
Next, set a clear goal for your project or rest period, do something you find mentally interesting, and block outside interruptions. To help your brain get into the zone, have a preflow ritual. I like to listen to &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mUDlFhz4TE&amp;t=655s" rel="nofollow">Zen music</a>&#8221; when I begin writing my column. Soon, you’ll feel relaxed, present, and engaged.
Let’s <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/living-with-als-2/">live well with ALS</a> and live in flow.
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Note: <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/">ALS News Today</a> is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/als-diagnosis/">diagnosis</a>, or <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/approved-treatments-for-als/">treatment</a>. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.

Tag: living in the present

How setting an intention to ‘simply be’ became an ALS goal

How I’ve benefited from finding flow with my ALS