One of my favorite exchanges in film is this one between Bill & Ted and Socrates (delightfully mispronounced, “So-CRATES,” as in boxes). Socrates then lays the following gem on the endearing surf-philosophers: “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” (Albeit, he says it in Greek…)
I share this today because: What’s the deal with all the calendaring and habit stuff, anyway, Moll?
Listening to a habits book; reading said habits book; writing a time plan; crafting a habits calendar; listening to a 21-day meditation on time sickness. Why?
Because of Socrates’ reply: There is only so much time; How will I spend it?
I’ve crafted a degree of discipline over the last several years about how I spend my money. Discovered money is a useful tool, yet a harsh master; decided how to use it to best support my goals, desires, health, vitality, future and present. How I spend my money reflects the values I hold. And so, now, I look at another of the very few tools I have control over in my life: my time.
With the habits tracker eliminating decisions and encouraging a little effort each day (rather than the sprinter’s “exertion/exhaustion” purgatory), I’ve crafted and carved out more minutes in which to do that which I must. Not dishes or laundry, but purpose. To act in alignment with my purpose.
When I spend 4 hours on the couch both days this weekend reading Cider House Rules, is that in alignment with my purpose? Hmmm, yes, reading is a love but, maybe just 2 hours would suffice!
When I clean out folders and boxes when I really need to start an avoided piece of writing for my weekly goals call? Well, yes, clearing needs to be done. But what ultimately moves me toward my purpose? Certainly not “tricking” myself with apparent busy-ness so that I have zero time to write.
My next body of work is in the arena of effectiveness, success, and (forgive me) “flow.” I can tell because the words I’m reading and listening to have begun to shift from time: Oprah’s Super Soul conversation with Jack Canfield about success. Downloading his Success Principles on Hoopla (the library e-borrowing app). And this morning, starting the 21-meditation on…Manifesting True Success.
My weekly goals call has shifted in its tenor, too, from finding, making, using Time to a pulled-back overview of refining my larger goals and purpose on this earth:
Now that I’ve made time, how will I use it?
Owning Voice 