No. 21 On alignment

This week, I’ve just returned from a short holiday that involved more consecutive days of golf than I have played in quite some time. Anyone who plays sports knows the importance of alignment where being even slightly off can cause you to miss the target. But, get yourself aligned just right and it can be magical. As is often the case, the parallels between sport and other aspects of life are strong. So, let’s stand back, get lined up this week, and maybe create a little magic.

Serenity

Alignment: arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions.

The second law of thermodynamics states that the natural tendency of the universe (assuming that it is a closed system) is to move toward disorder - out of alignment. The more we want things to keep in alignment the more energy is required. The more energy is transferred or transformed in this act, the more energy that is wasted. It is so interesting, therefore, that we humans crave alignment. It brings us comfort and calm to live in spaces that are balanced and free of clutter. According to a Stanford BeWell article, "when your environment is cluttered, the chaos restricts your ability to focus. The clutter also limits your brain’s ability to process information. Clutter makes you distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an uncluttered, organized, and serene environment." From books lined on the library shelf to figurative alignment between our values and our actions, we know that eventually we will put energy into bringing these aspects of every day life into appropriate relative positions. Why not heed the second law and transfer the energy earlier rather than later? Less energy transferred, less energy wasted, more serenity to bask in.

Perseverance

The funny thing with alignment is that distance matters. While we can "get away with" being a little off course close to our target - whether it be physical or mental - from a distance a little bit off inevitably results in a very large miss. This is particularly the case when we work with others. From family working at having the best summer ever to sports teams aiming for the big victory to a humble tea company growing a vibrant 'communitea', it is critical to consistently check our alignment with each other and with our goals. From family meetings to the two word check in to full project plans executed by PMP-certified managers, there are as many ways to check in on alignment with each other and our goals as there are teas in the studio (and more!). By connecting and aligning, and re-connecting and re-aligning over and over again, we maximize our collective accuracy over the distance. Best. Summer. Ever!

Well-being

Just as aligning the gears in a machine or code in a software program ensures that the parts of the system are correctly positioned to function together effectively, aligning our daily routines, thoughts, and actions with where we want to be physically and mentally is critical. If we only think about eating healthily and being active but we don't incorporate it into our every day, we are out of alignment and it will, in the short or long term, affect our well-being. Similarly, if our actions are positive but our thoughts are destructive, we do ourselves no favours. Most of us, I dare say, care about our well-being and would like to live long, healthy lives. Consider where you can bring yourself more into alignment with whatever goal or objective you have for your won well-being. We have a great head start since we're all drinking beautiful, loose leaf teas high in antioxidants and delicious herbal infusions that are great for body and soul ;)

One more thing...

I think I'll go bring the tea cupboard into alignment...

Until next time,
Steep Calm.
Bree