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Don’t Just Spend Time; Take Time

Guest post by: T. Harv Eker

Article Overview: There’s always something to do, right? Somewhere to be. Someone to meet. Commitments to fulfill. We all have our reasons, but the one thing we need to ask ourselves is this: is this really taking me toward my idea of success?

Don’t Just Spend Time; Take Time

There's always something to do, right? Somewhere to be. Someone to meet. Commitments to fulfill. We all have our reasons, but the one thing we need to ask ourselves is this: is this really taking me toward my idea of success? Success can cover anything from financial abundance to happiness in relationships and family. But we're really looking for common underlying themes no matter what the category. Some of these themes are peace of mind, a sense of calm; for things to slow down so we can actually enjoy our lives.

In other words, what we're looking for is the exact opposite of what a lot of people typically experience: the hectic lifestyle so many are living. The irony in all this: people live hectic lives in the first place in order to be successful-to be happier and more comfortable at a future time-so then they can finally relax, slow down and enjoy a sunset every now and then.

But when does that moment come? Next week? Next vacation? Next year? When we finally reach a long-standing goal? When we retire?

It becomes a never-ending cycle of work for play; only a lot of people forget to actually take time to play now! When work is over, then errands. And when errands are over, then it's obligation A, then B, then it's time to just crash and get ready to do it all over again.

No doubt, hard effective work can pay off, but at what price?

We need to include a new definition about what success means, one that speaks to the need for more balance; taking more time to be with those we care about; more time for play, more time to take care of ourselves and do the things we really want to do, not just what we feel like we have to do.

Why do so many people "work" their lives away and busy themselves to death?

Why? One word: FEAR!

Fear that they're not doing enough, or for that matter fear of not being good enough. Fear that if they don't spend enough time on results-driven activity, then they won't get anywhere.

The mind can be our greatest ally or our greatest obstacle, striving to protect the Ego that above all else wants safety, security, and making sure we have "enough". But if you're always looking for "enough," you never get to experience it, do you? You're always doing, always going after it, as if it's not possible that enough is enough right now.

Naturally, I'd be the first one to say that finances and your career are important, but not at the expense of your physical, mental, and emotional health. Not at the price of your sense of peace, your family or enjoying your life.

Don't just spend time; take time!

EXERCISE:

List your values-what's most important to you? If you didn't have to work, how would you spend your time?

In order to have more time for yourself, how could you leverage yourself (i.e. earn money while you sleep)? Who can you delegate some of your time-consuming tasks to?

Then adjust your schedule for the next month by assigning specific times you take for yourself. Block out these times first. Consider them appointments and keep them as you would any other.

I want to hear from you now. Can you relate to the challenge of the "never-ending cycle of work for play?" If you had to create a definition about what success means to you right this minute, what would it be? (You can always tweak it later, but I want to know what comes to your mind first-what does your gut tell you? Declare it here in the comments . . . and then go live it!

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Article Tags: calm, commitments, financial abundance, future time, happiness, hectic lifestyle, hectic lives, irony, no doubt, obligation, peace of mind, relationships, sunset, word fear



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