Time. Do you ever feel rushed and forever “on the go?” We all get the same 24-hour day. We all get the same number of days in one year. Time is the great equaliser of life; no matter your life situation, everyone is equal in this regard. Yet for a growing many people there simply “aren’t enough hours in the day.” There are a multitude of responsibilities, pressures, and demands. And if that weren’t enough there are so many activities to get involved in; stimulation here, there and everywhere. No wonder there is such a thing as “spiritual attention deficit disorder” nowadays, with so many forced and unforced distractions. Time it seems is ‘enemy.’ Why are we so time-hungry? Why is it we feel so stretched?
s
In Western culture this type of time-pressure appears to have crept in over the years; particularly with the advent of 24/7 life. We want what we want now if not yesterday. There are obvious advantages; you don’t usually have to wait, for one.
In Western culture this type of time-pressure appears to have crept in over the years; particularly with the advent of 24/7 life. We want what we want now if not yesterday. There are obvious advantages; you don’t usually have to wait, for one.
s
Yet, the culture which seeks things “now” sucks us in, doesn’t it? Who these days isn’t drawn into the urgency of life? This creates a busyness that is prepared to pile important thing on top of important thing—a ‘can do’ attitude prevails for all things. It has to, to survive. Is it busyness to the point of madness? Do we suddenly do these things because we are no longer comfortable in our own skins? Is it escapism? For some perhaps, though many would argue the opposite. We’d love to have the time to get in touch with our inner self; we just don’t have it: time.
Yet, the culture which seeks things “now” sucks us in, doesn’t it? Who these days isn’t drawn into the urgency of life? This creates a busyness that is prepared to pile important thing on top of important thing—a ‘can do’ attitude prevails for all things. It has to, to survive. Is it busyness to the point of madness? Do we suddenly do these things because we are no longer comfortable in our own skins? Is it escapism? For some perhaps, though many would argue the opposite. We’d love to have the time to get in touch with our inner self; we just don’t have it: time.
s
Today’s society embraces the principles of diligence that much we seem to be almost ‘overly-diligent,’ at least partially. Of course, diligence in an accurate manner of speaking is careful to construct life so that order, responsibility and discipline are frontrunners. So perhaps it is a skewed version of diligence... diligence with questionable motives and outcomes.
Today’s society embraces the principles of diligence that much we seem to be almost ‘overly-diligent,’ at least partially. Of course, diligence in an accurate manner of speaking is careful to construct life so that order, responsibility and discipline are frontrunners. So perhaps it is a skewed version of diligence... diligence with questionable motives and outcomes.
s
When a person looks at their schedule and they can’t find time for basic necessities like exercise and sleep there’s a real problem. “Where does all my time go?” might be the heart cry, as a sense of helplessness pervades the victim of time-hunger.
When a person looks at their schedule and they can’t find time for basic necessities like exercise and sleep there’s a real problem. “Where does all my time go?” might be the heart cry, as a sense of helplessness pervades the victim of time-hunger.
s
I can recall times in my life when I survived on 4-5 hours sleep a night and would forego exercise and even time to eat properly because I was always on the go and had so much on. When I look back to those times, no matter how important my life roles were, I was always miserable deep down, because there was no self-time—no time to recharge the batteries.
I can recall times in my life when I survived on 4-5 hours sleep a night and would forego exercise and even time to eat properly because I was always on the go and had so much on. When I look back to those times, no matter how important my life roles were, I was always miserable deep down, because there was no self-time—no time to recharge the batteries.
s
Notwithstanding the present discussion, let’s flip it over and head toward a solution that holds weight. Consider the following:
Notwithstanding the present discussion, let’s flip it over and head toward a solution that holds weight. Consider the following:
s
When we’re pressed for time we have purpose, but purpose without focus—that’s the real problem. We have too much purpose, if there were such a thing. The word “clutter” fits as the antithesis of “focus.” We should feel privileged to have purpose in our lives, but we begin to resent it when we’re expected to focus on too many things—in truth, many of these expectations come from within ourselves and our inability to simply say no; It’s not always about saying no to others, we have to have the discipline at times to say no to self as well. This is even saying no to things we might enjoy, things that will bring clutter to our lives, not focus. Again, there’s so much stimulation and noise in life, we require discernment to protect ourselves.
When we’re pressed for time we have purpose, but purpose without focus—that’s the real problem. We have too much purpose, if there were such a thing. The word “clutter” fits as the antithesis of “focus.” We should feel privileged to have purpose in our lives, but we begin to resent it when we’re expected to focus on too many things—in truth, many of these expectations come from within ourselves and our inability to simply say no; It’s not always about saying no to others, we have to have the discipline at times to say no to self as well. This is even saying no to things we might enjoy, things that will bring clutter to our lives, not focus. Again, there’s so much stimulation and noise in life, we require discernment to protect ourselves.
s
The good thing about purpose is that it is based in hope—for you see a reason for existence, and hope is based in the governing value of trust. Another way of saying this is: having purpose increases your reliance on the virtue of trust.
The good thing about purpose is that it is based in hope—for you see a reason for existence, and hope is based in the governing value of trust. Another way of saying this is: having purpose increases your reliance on the virtue of trust.
s
Clarity in life roles is critical for anyone with a busy life. It’s simply a matter of focussing on important life roles and goals; these come from your values. The process of developing and achieving focus, effectively de-cluttering your life, goes in this order:
Clarity in life roles is critical for anyone with a busy life. It’s simply a matter of focussing on important life roles and goals; these come from your values. The process of developing and achieving focus, effectively de-cluttering your life, goes in this order:
s
1) Sort your values out; what determines your attitudes and what you stand for? I have seven, but you could have more or less; so long as they are personal to you. Values can be trust, respect, honesty, kindness, discernment, generosity and so on. Values steer your approach in life; they help form you. You should focus on them each day and visualise them in action.
1) Sort your values out; what determines your attitudes and what you stand for? I have seven, but you could have more or less; so long as they are personal to you. Values can be trust, respect, honesty, kindness, discernment, generosity and so on. Values steer your approach in life; they help form you. You should focus on them each day and visualise them in action.
s
2) Clarify your life roles and don’t do things that don’t fit in here—this is key. I wouldn’t recommend you have any more than seven life roles, and no more than three of these should be major time-hungry life roles. For balance, self and family life roles are closer to the top in importance. Your secular roles should be closer to the bottom.
2) Clarify your life roles and don’t do things that don’t fit in here—this is key. I wouldn’t recommend you have any more than seven life roles, and no more than three of these should be major time-hungry life roles. For balance, self and family life roles are closer to the top in importance. Your secular roles should be closer to the bottom.
s
3) Get specific and set goals for each life role. This supercharges your focus and helps you stay motivated and in-tune with performing well in each key life role.
3) Get specific and set goals for each life role. This supercharges your focus and helps you stay motivated and in-tune with performing well in each key life role.
s
Don’t get frustrated about your lack of time. Be intentional about your life and manage it as you would a good business; with enough planning to get the important things right, letting the rest go. It’s great to have purpose, but it is focus and removal of clutter that brings the contentment and peace of knowing you’re doing the right things.
Don’t get frustrated about your lack of time. Be intentional about your life and manage it as you would a good business; with enough planning to get the important things right, letting the rest go. It’s great to have purpose, but it is focus and removal of clutter that brings the contentment and peace of knowing you’re doing the right things.
s
Time is finite. We need to appreciate it and use it and learn from it. A lifetime might appear to be a long time; the truth is, it isn’t.
Time is finite. We need to appreciate it and use it and learn from it. A lifetime might appear to be a long time; the truth is, it isn’t.
s
© Steve J. Wickham, 2008. All rights reserved Worldwide.
© Steve J. Wickham, 2008. All rights reserved Worldwide.
s
This article is also featured on EzineArticles at: http://EzineArticles.com/?id=937602
2 comments:
And a lot of the work around those three points seems to sort itself out just by providing for regular "quality time with yourself" every day, or even every other day.
Yes most definitely, Paul.
That seems to be the missing ingredient, though "elusive"... I wonder how much of the populace struggle with time like it is the 'tail wagging the dog'... I know I have.
Post a Comment