Archive | Discipline RSS feed for this section

Shortcuts

1 Feb

When we’re going places and we want to save time, sometimes we try shortcuts we think will help. They might help us avoid traffic, or cut the distance down to get us to our destination more quickly. They’re great when they work, but sometimes the shortcuts become complications instead. When that happens it’s frustrating and can cost us more time than the direct route would have. Our brilliant shortcut can turn into a headache. Our lives are like that sometimes. We know where we want to go and we have the road mapped out but then think we can find a way to cut some of the time out by eliminating a step or two, or going a different way. Sometimes it works, but many times it ends up costing us more time and aggravation than we planned on. It’s like get rich schemes. They look good at first and we get excited thinking about how quickly they’ll get us what we want, but often they end up costing us more time and money in the long run. We can’t see that going in, and unless we stop to think about what will happen if we don’t get rich quick, we can lose more than we bargained for.

Every destination has a road leading to it. We can go anywhere we want to go and sometimes we go on long journeys that take a lot of time and commitment. But the most important things we want to accomplish in our lives rarely come quickly. They take effort, planning, and diligence. We have to be willing to stay true when the inevitable complications come, and be strong enough to keep going. If we want the goal badly enough, nothing will take us from our course. But we might be distracted by a shortcut. For instance, we might think we don’t have to finish a degree to get that job, and try to learn the skills needed more quickly in another way. Or maybe we think we don’t have to earn a promotion by working hard for the next year, and instead try to befriend those in position to grant it. There are all kinds of scenarios we can think up. But in reality, short cuts for what we really want rarely work. Additionally, they take our focus off the plans we’ve already made. If we get distracted trying a different route, we can’t go further down the road that’s proven to get us there.

It takes patience to accomplish big goals. We can’t expect to achieve anything of value overnight. There are no get rich schemes that always work. If we really want something and there is a proven and sure way to get to it, even if it takes time, it’s worth the investment. We can spend our lives like bees in a field of flowers, flitting from one idea to the next, one path to another, and continually try to cut corners and find shortcuts. If we do, we may find precious time goes by and we have moved no closer to the goal. However, if we focus on one road, and keep our eyes trained on the destination we will succeed. It’s like the old story of the tortoise and the hare and the race they ran against each other.  As you may recall when the race began the hare took off and rocketed ahead, while the tortoise slowly began plodding along toward the finish line. The hare got distracted running here and there and jumping all over, and was way faster than the tortoise, but the tortoise never left the path to the destination. He slowly continued forward never taking his eyes from the goal. And we all know that’s exactly how he won. That’s how we’ll win too. We don’t need a shortcut to succeed. If we set the goal, make a plan, and diligently keep to the road that will take us there, we will not fail.

Today if you’ve got a goal in sight and are considering changing your plan and trying a shortcut, make sure it’s something that will continue to move you forward. There is no rush, and you can take the time you need to achieve whatever you want. There is nothing that will stop you if you keep your eyes on the goal. Keep moving forward. You will be successful and every moment you invest in gaining that success will be well spent.

Tags: , ,

The Simple Life

20 Nov

In this day and age, there are thousands of things that capture our attention. There are limitless websites we can visit to see and learn new things, thousands of items we can purchase, endless places to travel to, and an ongoing barrage of information flowing in. We can spend our time involved in innumerable ventures and activities. Many of them are valuable, but there are a lot of good, but worthless, time takers that can eat up our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in all that’s available, and if we aren’t careful we can spend our days reading about and watching how others live their lives, and neglect to actually live our own. Every moment we live is expendable. Once it’s gone we can never get it back. Therefore, it seems wise to spend them in ways that will enhance our experiences and give us the most in return.

Leonardo da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” If that’s true then all the time we spend complicating our lives with information and activity may keep us from becoming exactly what we’re seeking. Learning to live a simple life can bring us more free time, and allow us to enjoy each day without the constant need to be busy. These days it seems we’re expected to be constantly working on something, or engaged in an activity. But if we’re always busy we have no time for thought, or reflection. And if we continually jump from one action to the next and never leave any down time, we may burn ourselves out. Our days will fly by and because of our activity level we may not remember what we spent our time doing. Learning to simplify our days can help us learn more about life and about ourselves, and may improve our physical and mental health.

When we spend our time engaged in anything, we are, in fact, spending our time. We are exchanging it for the benefit of whatever activity we’re engaged in. Like money, once it leaves our hands, it’s gone. But our time can never be re-earned or replaced. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. If we think more carefully about how we want to use it, and are judicious in giving it away to things that mean little, we will feel more gratified and satisfied when the day is over. Instead of getting lost in our computer searches, and spinning our wheels doing things that take us nowhere, we can choose to consciously decide how our minutes and hours will be used. And if we do, our lives will be richer and more meaningful, and we’ll remember each day is a gift.

Today if you’ve been caught up in all the information and activities around you, if you’ve lost time doing things that haven’t returned anything positive back to you, take control. Determine how you’ll spend your time more effectively. Make careful choices regarding it and you’ll be happier with what you’re doing, more relaxed going forward, and nothing will steal your focus from your goals. Today be in charge of your life, and your time spent will return good things back to you.

Tags: , ,

All Set

13 Oct

Being busy is just part of life.  We have things we need to get done, and things we want to get done, and there are always complications that eat up our time.  We have tasks that keep us busy, and we have goals for things we want to accomplish.  It takes planning to get everything done, and if we aren’t careful, the daily tasks that pop up will take all our focus and we’ll forget about the goals that are waiting in the background.  We can think about our tasks as short term projects, things we have to address now.  The goals we’ve set for our personal growth are generally more long term.  If we want to accomplish them, we need to manage our time, and make a plan so we can succeed.  Our daily chores are important, but our personal goals are important too.  They help us define who we are and who we want to be.  Although we may think of them as a priority, if we don’t take time to plan for them, they may get lost in the shuffle.

If we have a goal that requires significant time like going to the gym for three hours each week, if we want to make it happen, we need to get it onto our schedule.  If we write it down and decide that no matter what comes we are committed to being there, we have a better chance of making it happen.  If our goal is to have more down time by ourselves it may take careful planning to be absent from our routine.  We can figure out how to excuse ourselves, and find a private location where we won’t be disturbed.  If we want to develop a more extensive social life, we can make plans for local events, and if we invite friends to join us their participation will ensure we actually attend.  No matter what the goal is, if we want to achieve it we need a plan.

Sometimes our long range goals involve a financial aspect.  We may not have the funds for them now but if we commit to a date to be ready, make a plan for saving the required amount, and implement it, we’ll be prepared when the time arrives.  If they require a fitness level we haven’t yet achieved, we can start training and maybe work with someone else until we are strong and ready for the event.  There are few things more rewarding than planning for, and accomplishing a long desired goal.  We feel gratified and happy when we realize we did what we set out to do.  Even very difficult challenges may be attained if we work for them, and plan for them.  If we start out believing we will achieve them, and refuse to let complications stand in our way, we’ll get there.  We can do anything we want to, and we can fill our lives with exciting changes and new experiences.  We can reach for the brass ring, and we can grasp it.

Today if you’re thinking about something you want to do, make a plan to achieve it.  Schedule your time to allow for it, and believe that you will accomplish it.  You can make all your dreams come true one step at a time.  Believe in yourself.  Believe you can, and you will.  You have the courage and determination to get this done.  Reach high and stretch.  There isn’t anything you can’t do.

Tags: , ,

Trade Off

12 Aug

Trading one thing for another is something we learn early in life.  Children often make trades at lunchtime, collector cards are traded to complete a set, toys are swapped, and even clothes are sometimes exchanged.  As we get older we realize that everything we do involves a trade of some sort.  We trade our time at work for money, we trade our money for things we purchase, and we trade our influence to get where we want to be.  Everything we do involves some sort of trade off.  They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and that’s true.  There is a price for everything, and we have to trade something to get it.  The trick is to be sure what we get when we make the trade is worth what we’re giving up.

Sometimes something we want has a price that’s too high for us.  If we want to study astronomy, we have to stay up all night to see the stars.  But if we’re early birds by nature, we may determine that’s too difficult for us.  Maybe we want to move up in our career but that would require moving away from our families, and we decide it’s not worth it.  Perhaps we dream of climbing Mount Everest but the physical demands are beyond what we can handle.  When we think of all the things we’d like to do, the cost of the trade off always come into play.  There will always be something we have to give up to achieve the goal, and only we can determine if the trade is manageable.

Some trades go well, and we are happy with the exchange.  When that happens we feel like we were treated fairly and made a good choice.  But sometimes, our trades go badly.  Maybe we purchase an expensive item that cannot be returned only to discover it wasn’t exactly what we thought it was.  Or we give up an evening to go out with friends, and upon arriving see that our contentious “ex” is there as well.  Because everything is a trade-off of some sort, the best we can do is to try to get as much information as possible before we make the exchange.  If we do that, we’re more likely to make trades we’re happy with.

Today if you’re planning to trade your time or energy for something you want, be sure the trade is in your best interest.  You are capable of seeing things clearly and making good decisions.  Ensure you are doing what you want most.  You’ll be giving something up for the goal you’re seeking.  Before you go forward, make sure the reward is worth the cost.

Tags: , ,

The Rest of the Story

3 Aug

Sometimes our interpretations of situations are skewed because we don’t have the whole story.  We may hear one side of things, or we may be basing ideas on what we think we’ve seen.  There is an old saying, “Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear.”  It’s wise advice, but sometimes because the source telling us a story is someone we trust, we may believe them.  And if they have only half the information, we may be way off the mark.  And seeing isn’t always believing.  What we see may be a small part of a bigger picture.

People are complicated, and sometimes situations are complicated too.  What at first may seem to be obvious can turn out to be something completely different.  If we make decisions based on what we think is happening, without first getting all the facts, we may make mistakes that hurt us, or others.  Everyone knows the rumor mill cannot be trusted.  Some of us love intrigue and suspense, and sometimes when people repeat a story, they embellish it.  Before we know it, the entire scenario barely resembles the truth.  It’s like the telephone game we played as children.  Nothing is ever the same after it’s been filtered through several people.

It’s best then to try to get the facts from the real source instead of those reporting on it.  That’s not always possible, and if it isn’t, we should let it go.  Many people have been hurt by rumors that started out with a segment of truth, only to be blown way out of proportion to the point that they no longer resemble what happened at all.  Getting the rest of the story before we believe or repeat anything is imperative.  This is true in our interpersonal relationships, and in every other facet of our lives.  We need to get the truth before we go forward.  If that isn’t possible, we need to let the story go.

Today if you’ve gotten involved in a rumor or story that’s floating around, stop until you can verify all the facts.  Don’t take a chance on hurting someone by repeating something you’ve heard, or interpreting something you think you’ve seen.  We are all connected to one another, and we have a responsibility to ensure we don’t injure each other needlessly.  Be wise, and be careful with what you repeat, and what you interpret.  Those around you are important and they will value you, and trust you when you care for them.  Caring isn’t always sharing.  Sometimes caring is keeping it to yourself.

 

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →