The Check-In Game/Finding Ten

A little while back when we were all feeling shakier than we generally like to feel we started playing the check-in game.  At any given moment we’d rank our mood on a scale from one to ten.  If the mood was less than ten we’d run an inventory about reasons why and what could be done to improve it either in the moment or for future.

Somehow the act of checking-in, noticing, and taking action seems to have bumped up all of our moods on a regular basis.  Ax’s waffle-sniffing solution to math angst is now hard-wired into his practices.  Bedtime has also become a lot less challenging because it’s now something he’s recognized helps him be in ten more of the time. 

We’ve identified that hugs are key to my being in ten, along with waking up early to get my alone-time in the morning. For Mike, it’s the daily walk and knowing his team is feeling good while we continue to shelter.

The specifics aren’t that important, but having a light way to be in the conversation throughout the day has been helpful.  We empathize in the low moments before we turn to brainstorming ways to increase joy.  We celebrate each other’s triumphs of moving the number up.  

It’s not like it’s wrong to be sad or feel down, it’s just more and more clear to us that how long we stay in that before we take action to remedy it is a choice.  And somehow, the taking action, any action, turns out to be the remedy.  I’m gonna keep going. 

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