I've had a love/hate
relationship with time my whole adult life. I despise being late; I actually
like to allow about 90 minutes prep time if I have somewhere I need to be. I
hate the feeling of being rushed...it actually creates great anxiety which
manifests in a slight panicky feeling. I like having control of my time, but I
feel suffocated by a daily calendar in which every minute is planned out and
accounted for. I'm grateful for the flexibility of an unplanned day, but find
more times than not that life is passing me by...as are my dreams and goals, and I'm not getting any younger!
Tony Robbins, a well known philanthropist and life coach, says “One
reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our
focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through
life, never deciding to master anything in particular.”
I've been a dabbler. A
time waster. A "take the day as it comes and whatever happens,
happens" kind of gal for way too long. And now is MY time for change.
So what am I doing
differently?
1. I plan out my day the
evening before, making sure to focus on the top priorities: scheduled
appointments, personal commitments, one hour minimum of "me time",
and a block of time for "must do's", things that are NOT optional,
that require zero interruption if they are to be accomplished. I allow a
"cushion", an additional hour between the things I've scheduled so as
to allow for unforeseen delays.
2. I value my time. It
is indispensable. It is mine and mine alone. I am completely accountable for
how I spend it, just as I am accountable for the spending of my money. If I
don't have enough time to take care of my priorities, if there isn't enough to
adequately take care of my needs, if I find myself suddenly "running
low", it is on me. No one else is to blame. I can use it wisely, use it to
my benefit, or squander it away and have nothing to show for it. Whatever I
choose brings consequences, desirable or undesirable, that I must face up to
without blame cast on anyone but ME.
3. I value the time of
others. If I've agreed to only take an hour of someone's time, I adhere to that
commitment with a firm resolve to be respectful of the precious gift they offer
in my behalf. And, I expect the same from others.
4. I've learned to say
"no". If I'm not interested, if it's not a priority for me, if I
can't be "all in", I politely decline with a firm, but respectful
"no". The decision is mine to make, and I feel no obligation to offer
an explanation or excuse.
I only have one life, 24
hours in one day, 7 days in a week, 365 days in a year and only God knows how
many years I have left. I want to have something to show for it. I want to
enjoy it. I want to work hard and feel good about the things I've accomplished.
I want to make a contribution, a sincere effort to offer my best self in
helping to make a difference, if even a small one, in making the world a better
place. Time is the key. And I choose to spend it wisely to the best of my
ability!
I'm all in! Are you with me?
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