“I don’t have time” is often a soothing self-lie; the hard truth is that it is not a priority: if it were, you’d find the time. Actually, most of us have more time than we have energy/motivation: think of how much time we fritter away on TV/social media especially at the end of the day when we are tired. Yet goals, plans, and related deadlines and commitments to purpose can help us find those extra bits of motivation and energy we need to make the most of our time on this Earth. This is most true when we are living our lives in alignment with our deepest values and our plans are aligned with purposes that we are truly passionate about.
Observe yourself: Your daily actions express your true priorities which can shockingly diverge from your stated ones. This happens most often when we lack a plan for our lives. While I value serendipity and good luck when they occur, it is certainly not a life management plan; we are highly unlikely to “drift” in the best direction for our lives. Living our best lives, becoming our best selves requires focus, awareness, and planning followed by hard work, smartly done.
Since every yes is a no, smart folk remain aware of what they are saying no to. And when everything is a priority, nothing is a priority; things that matter most should never be at the mercy of things that matter least.
Closing Quotes:
“A lack of time is actually lack of priorities.” – Timothy Ferris
“Your greatest self has been waiting your whole life; don’t make it wait any longer.” – Dr. Steve Maraboli
“Where your attention goes, your time goes” – Idowu Koyenikan, Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability
“Learn how to separate the majors and the minors. A lot of people don’t do well simply because they major on minor things.” – Jim Rohn
“Will this matter to me as I’m dying? Answer that question and you’ll know where to spend your time and energy.” – J.S. Felts, Ageless Wisdom: A Treasury of Quotes to Motivate and Inspire
As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier