A Pre-Meeting Ritual

I’ve always prided myself on preparation. Before walking into a meeting, I’ve researched, studied, and plotted out objectives and the agenda. Yet over the years I’ve learned something about this habit: sometimes gripping one’s agenda and goals so tightly means that other people feel unheard and alienated. The solution to this problem? Being more present. Enter: having a pre-meeting ritual.

I’d love to share this ritual, if you’d like to know…

I arrive at my meeting location (or computer, if it’s an online meeting) five minutes early. During those five minutes I don’t cram in another phone call, answer emails, or squeeze those last moments dry. I just sit.

Then, I spray this energizing aura mist around me, close my eyes, and whisper to the Universe,

Please let wisdom reside inside me, and

let wisdom come through me.

As with all my best tricks and tips, I adapted these from other people’s brilliance (you know me: I’m not actually that smart; I’m simply a keen learner).

In this case I have Barbara Vail Design and Christy Shaterian Photography to thank. Barbara so sweetly gifted me this mist for Christmas, and Christy once shared with me that she says her own beautiful prayer before she starts a photo shoot. I was so touched that I immediately wanted my own version.

I realize how woo-woo this sounds, but this kind of preparation really makes me pause and be present in my business life. And if you’re going to own your own business but not really be there for it, what’s the point?