day 294: Fresh Air

Sometimes when we are at work and we are at our wits end there is nothing better than going outside and getting some fresh air. There have been many times in my career where I have said to myself and others, "I just need to go for a walk, I'll be back". Just the change of air can make the difference between hope and despair. We get pent up in one place and we need a change of venue, a change of location, a change in the sights, sounds and smells around us to clear our head. I once read a study that we can become 40% more productive by changing location for what we are doing at the moment. That makes sense to me as when I really want to concentrate and get something done quickly, I take that work into another room or to another desk, away from my office where I can get distracted with all the other things that I need to do. That change of venue really helps. The same can be said for a change in environment like the change that comes with different sights,sounds and smells around us. The most subtle of changes can take us away from the fixations we have on one thing and allow us to concentrate on what we need to do. We also can get that change and breath of fresh air when we change the people around us for advice and counsel. If we are stuck in a problem or feel like we have run into a brick wall, we probably also need to change the people who are giving us our advice and look for others who can add a new perspective and give us new and fresh ideas. Many times that new way of looking at things can open up our minds to another idea or another solution. The wisdom of the Proverbs brings this to us as well in Proverbs 27:9; "The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense." How many times have you felt "stuck" in a situation, sometimes so stuck that it feels like you just can't breathe and you know you can't figure this out on your own? I know I have been there many times and the breath of fresh air has come from someone else who takes the time to hear out what is on my mind and then adds their take on the problem. That extra thinking, those caring words, have been what helped me through the issue. When we try to go it alone all the time, which can be the tendency for many of us, before long we are breathing our own air and everything feels stale. We need that fresh and sweet air that comes from the advice and counsel of a friend. Find that friend of yours today and seek out their counsel before you make another decision and also see if you can't become that friend to someone else who needs your counsel today.

Reference: Proverbs 27:9 (New Living Testament)