I’ve been thinking lately about that feeling of “not having enough time.” I say feeling because you do have enough time. But it’s that feeling of being in a hurry that prevents you from being in the moment and enjoying life fully. Time management is not about systems and “to do lists.” It’s making a paradigm shift as to how you view life.
Most of us start the day like we’re trying to catch a train. We wake up, grab a cup of coffee, look at the paper and listen to the news. And many of us turn on the computer, check our email or a few websites. Now we’re ready. We rush out of the house to make an appointment or meet a deadline or to put the finishing touches on a project. From deadline to appointment it goes. When we leave work we have other responsibilities and obligations, and it doesn’t end until we go to sleep, and for some it still doesn’t end. We never do catch the train. We forgot one essential thing. We are the conductor and the train can’t go anywhere without us.
What if you knew deep inside that the train wasn’t going anywhere? What would it take to develop the wisdom that there was a better way? What changes could you implement that would make a difference? I was a busy trial lawyer for thirty years, always running to catch the train. I still remember racing to the court room full of coffee and stress until I realized I was the conductor of my life. That realization allowed me to make life altering changes that continue to make my life more enjoyable, more successful and more fulfilling.
Here’s what I discovered. How you begin your day sets the tone for the day! It all starts with creating your perfect morning. This is your morning, no one else’s. It’s an opportunity that comes around the same time every day. Consider waking up to music you love, rather than to the music or news on your alarm clock. Here’s what I do. I begin my day with meditation. If this is new to you just sit silently for 10-15 minutes before doing anything else. I suggest using a timer, while you are meditating., so that you don’t think about what you have to do when you leave the house.
Once your timer goes off allow yourself gently to focus on what you are grateful for. You might have a tendency to think about what isn’t working in your life or to worry about the future. If you do, you’re not alone. Most of us have this tendency to varying degrees. By focusing on what you are grateful for, you shift your focus to what you have and what is working rather than on what you don’t have. Gratitude helps you shift your focus! And we know that what we focus on expands.
Then start to wonder what the highlight of your day might be. I scan my day quickly and wonder if this is going to be the moment. I also wonder if the highlight might be something that I’m not thinking about at the moment. That’s the fun part. I’m open to being pleasantly surprised. The gratitude and highlight part of the morning program usually takes just a minute or two.
As you leave your house and begin the flow of your day you look at each experience and wonder if this is going to be the highpoint of your day knowing there is more to come. The concept of looking at the highlight of the day can be used in any situation even one that seems unpleasant. Imagine a meeting that you are going to have with someone, who let’s say to be nice, is “difficult.” Looking for the highlight in this experience or in this person can totally change your attitude about the meeting. I had my share of those meetings especially when I was a lawyer. Most all of the people that I work with also have those meetings. By the use of gratitude and wondering about the highlight, you are creating a positive expectation as to how you want your day to go.
As the day unfolds, if you sense that things inside are heating up, consider taking a little break. You might even stretch for five minutes or walk around the block. And there are no rules that you can’t listen to some good music. As your day progresses the biggest difference is the knowledge that you can be busy and be relaxed.
I have found that starting the day this way increases my energy and efficiency throughout the day. When I leave my house centered and focused there is a much greater likelihood that I can maintain this balance throughout the day. There has been plenty of research by psychologists demonstrating the value of taking the time for morning meditation or creative silence. This has been my practice for over thirty years and very rarely do I feel overwhelmed. And this was so even when I was in the middle of a trial. I find that I laugh more and generally enjoy my day. Of course I have my challenges and lose my focus periodically, but not for long. And before I go to sleep I again think about what was most special about this day.
The one thing I do know for certain is that there‘s a direct correlation between how I start my day and the quality of my life. Try a little experiment. For the next thirty days start your day on your own terms and discover the dramatic changes that are possible. Recently a friend asked me what I felt was the biggest benefit of being a long-term meditator. I thought about it for a few seconds and responded , “I very rarely feel that I don’t have enough time.”
JOURNEY ON
MARK
THERE’S NO BETTER TIME THAN NOW. There will always be something that holds you back; an excuse to put your life on hold. JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach, inspires others to experience more fulfillment and success in their life. A former trial attorney for 30 years and musician, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. He also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. Signup! http://www.inspirepossibility.com.
