Want to Change the Story of Your Life? Change the Story of Your Minutes
“I’ve been trying to simplify my life and focus more on everyday pleasures. I’ve cut down on a bunch of stuff, but my life is as crazy as ever. What’s the problem?”
I don’t know the intimate details of anyone’s schedule but my own, but I’ve got an almost surefire way to figure out why this person’s life is still miles from simple. But first, some background. How many times have said, “I totally love doing Activity X. I’m so into it!” Maybe it’s at a cocktail party, chat in the break room, or even in your own head. You might say it’s your passion. Unfortunately, you never get to do it. Life always manages to get in the way. You may say you love that activity and be completely sincere, but your actions tell the real story.
The stuff we spend our minutes on? That’s our real priority.
The Story Behind Our Actions
Our actions tell the real story of our lives and our passions. In my case, I say that I love to sew, and I do, but I complete about three projects a year. The rest of the time, I’m blogging, I’m gardening, I’m listening to Def Leppard. Those are the real passions in my life. That doesn’t mean I can’t sew, but it does mean that I can’t sit around blaming other people for eating into my prized sewing time.
So back to the question that started this all. What’s the problem? Why is life still so crazy? Day to day life will tell the story. Perhaps there are too many commitments clogging up the schedule and eating up your down time. Maybe you’re getting sucked into your friends’ drama on a regular basis, making you feel stressed and unable to get away. Who knows—maybe too much time spent at work or on the Internet is taking away the time that could be used for the bedrock components of a simple life.
Get Back to the Life You Love, One Minute at a Time
Whatever story the schedule tells, your minutes rarely lie. Whenever your goals and your image of your life don’t seem to line up quite right, it’s time to go back to basics. Take a closer look at where your minutes are spent and rearrange as needed. No guilt, no regret: just smile and remember that you’ve got the power to create your life as you see fit, one minute—and one action—at a time.
Photo courtesy of kainet
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This post has 13 comments
April 22nd, 2009
This post is very timely for me — I find myself struggling with trying to find a good rhythm to my days. When I was working, it was pretty clear what needed to happen when: wake up to alarm, take shower, head to work, follow daily work pattern, home, relax, dinner…etc. Now that I am at home with my little girl I miss that set pattern and need to try and figure one out involving all of the new things I’m doing.
Allegras last blog post..Awesome Item of the Day
April 22nd, 2009
Sara,
Nice post! Pay attention to the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves.
I have another related point to your ideas. Sometimes I avoid doing something I like because the task that I want to do is too big. Maybe I should look at it as what can I do in the time that I have.
Roger – A Content Lifes last blog post..Flow
April 22nd, 2009
You are so right. Where ever we put our energy is where our life takes us. One 3 lists in their journal. 1. What I do that I will always do.
2. What I hate doing that I will stop doing. 3. What I do that is a waste of time but I do anyway out of habit. Eliminate 2 & 3 and 1. will grow.
Tess The Bold Lifes last blog post..
April 22nd, 2009
Good post, Sara.
Minutes add up. When I re-arranged my schedule, I found I could cut 15 minutes off this-and-that, here-and-there so some days I was able to open up over an hour of time to do something I really wanted to do – and stop spending more time than I had to on basic chores. I really had to become aware of how I was spending my minutes.
Laurie | Express Yourself to Successs last blog post..An Important Interpersonal Skill
April 22nd, 2009
GREAT post. It’s so true. We need to focus on every minute, getting back to doing what we love. I’m starting to learn that as I spend more and more time writing on Positively Present. Thanks for the great inspiration!
http://positivelypresent.typepad.com
Positively Presents last blog post..who am i? who are you?
April 22nd, 2009
Yeah Sara.If we can turn back and look at our passed minutes of the day, we’ll see how productive we are.
And sometimes things we have to do steals our minutes so that we run out of time to do the things we love to do.But despite how busy we are we must allocate some time to chase our passions since they fill our souls with joy.
April 22nd, 2009
Yes, yes, YES! Focus on the minutes rather than on the bigger goals. It can be as simple as scanning your to-do list for tomorrow and crossing off anything you were planning to do out of obligation but with no passion.
Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..54 Tips For Green Living – Earth Day 2009
April 22nd, 2009
Excellent! The little things add up so much and it’s those things that really count.
Sagans last blog post..What’s Happening on the Web (some healthy links)
April 22nd, 2009
A very mindful post.
@Tess the bold life.
Love it. Wise words.
Carole
Carole – Rejuvenation Lounges last blog post..How To Focus On One Thing At A Time:
April 22nd, 2009
Hi Sara,
I love the concept about how the minutes tell the story and rarely lie. It is so true. All that matters is the moment and we have the power to choose how we spend those minutes!
Thank you for the reminder!
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..Happy Earth Day!!!!
April 22nd, 2009
Thanks for the reflection!
Christophers last blog post..New York City Public School Kids Sing Coldplay’s "Viva La Vida"
April 23rd, 2009
It’s interesting, it boils down to priorities I think, your minutes indicate your priorities. Actions don’t lie, what you spend your time on is what is most important to you, but yes I agree, life can seem very busy from time to time.
P.s.
Love def Leppard
Cody Dream-Life-Coachings last blog post..3 Steps To Achieving Anything
April 30th, 2009
“but your actions tell the real story.” Conversely, I am judged by my actions, not my intentions.
Great article! What consumes my thinking and time is my priority or what I worship. Changing that takes being in-tune with oneself and the ability to be present.
Funny, most of my life I was running around (extremely busy) but never really getting anything done. I wasn’t present to myself… I was running from having to spend time with myself.
Today with school, work, writing, volunteer work, marriage, etc., I’m busier than ever but it doesn’t feel that way. I tend to my inner soul through spirituality and have balance in my life for the first time.
jareds last blog post..How to eliminate fear
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