By yourlife

The Turtle Button

Mar 21, 2018 | 5:10 PM

Contributed by Stephanie Staples at Your Life Unlimited

I’ve been working on my Spanish for a few months now with the help of the Duolingo app. My favourite part about the app is the ‘Turtle Button’.

When the app wants me to translate a sentence, it rattles the words off in Spanish at what I guess is a normal speed (even though it sounds like fast forward to me). When it speaks at this pace I can hardly understand anything but I press the Turtle Button, they repeat the sentence nice and slowly, and I can actually understand what they are saying.

The Turtle Button. Hmmm.

I’ve recently sustained an injury to my knee, causing me to hobble, limp and crutch my way through my daily tasks.

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Things that I whipped through before without a second though take much more time, thought and effort. I feel like the Turtle Button has been installed in me. Tasks I would not otherwise be able to accomplish, I can still do, I just need more time.

The concept of the Turtle Button, aka, slowing down is a pretty good idea. Here are some examples of how it could be useful:

• We are having trouble communicating – press the Turtle Button, “Can you please explain that to me in a different way, I didn’t quite understand?”
• We are having disagreement or a misunderstanding – press the Turtle Button, “Let’s take a little time away from this and come back with fresh eyes.”
• We are frustrated, tired, overwhelmed – press the Turtle Button, then take some deep breaths, stretch, count to ten, seek nature, do something that nurtures you.
• We are rushing to get something done or accomplished – press the Turtle Button, look around and notice the sights, smells, sounds of beauty to appreciate, enjoy the getting there, not just the being there.
• We are scarfing down our meal, we have somewhere else to be – press the Turtle Button, taste your food, notice the texture on your tongue, does it smell good, are you enjoying the flavour?This week, see where using a virtual Turtle Button would be helpful for you. Where would you use it? Use it as a cue to remind yourself to slow down.

The world is not going to stop if we take an extra 30 seconds here and there. I know, I tried it already, and this big ball called Earth kept on spinning just the same.

Implementing a Turtle Button, it’s just one more way to live Your Life, Unlimited

PS – maybe I should get some Turtle buttons or stickers made?

***

Stephanie Staples, CSP* is the author of When Enlightening Strikes – Creating a Mindset for Uncommon Success, an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, and the recipient of the 2014 Manitoba Woman Entrepreneur Award for Contributions to Community. Stephanie empowers audiences & clients across North America to bring their ‘A’ game to work and to life. Stephanie has a special interest in working with and empowering nurses and healthcare providers. She happily calls Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada home. You can get loads of complimentary resources to help with issues such as work/life balance, wellness, stress management and happiness in general, as well as find out more information about her coaching and speaking services at http://www.YourLifeUnlimited.ca.

* Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), conferred by the National Speakers Association is the speaking profession’s international measure of professional platform proficiency. Less than 10 percent of speakers have earned this credential and are recognized as some of the best in their fields. Stephanie was one of only five professional speakers in Canada (and the only woman) to attain this designation in 2013.

The post The Turtle Button first appeared on Your Life Unlimited.

Contributed by Stephanie Staples at Your Life Unlimited