Believing you are busy and actually being busy!

Everyone’s so busy these days! They have something or the other on their list all the time. As a result, there is no time for family or friends or fun….or life.

Next time, when you say “I’m busy”, think:
“Are you really busy?”
“Are you pretending to be busy?”
“Are you having the belief that you are busy?”

 The third point is a little tricky. You believe you’re busy, when you feel you have so many things left to do! ‘So many’ could refer to 10 things or it could even be 100 things. The exact figure could very well also be a belief.

This belief adds to a lot of confusion and bad time management. Everything in life needs to have a priority and a deadline.

When I was unmarried, I was not really a ‘To do List’ type of person. But, after getting married and also being in a full time job, I really need a ‘To Do’ List. In fact, I just make too many lists!

I realized today that because of all those lists, I was under the belief that I’m extremely busy. No doubt, I am busy but it’s not unmanageable. It can be handled with some level of organization. What I really needed was a little bit of organization for those ‘To do’ Lists.

We live one day at a time. Days are split up into hours. Every task has a deadline – a certain day… a certain hour (formal or informal).

Deadlines are sometimes scary but if they are considered as milestones, they are not so scary.

Time management is difficult if we keep switching from one task to another. I remember reading an article about multitasking and how it gives the illusion that a lot of tasks are getting done, whereas, none of the tasks may actually be getting completed.

When we are able to do a task and check-mark it as completed, that’s when it holds some value. Per my analysis, if we are able to complete at least 3-5 tasks in a day, we are doing a good job. (Tasks- here, refer to those that require some level of analytical thinking)

It’s important to know the difference between a belief and a reality because beliefs drive our realities. If we believe the right thing, we can find time to do the right thing.

Next time when you believe you are busy, make a list of the things on your plate and when you’re supposed to submit them. Maybe then, you’ll be able to make time for other things or maybe then, you’ll actually have time for other things.

Dreams….Focus….Reality

Having a dream is one thing…. Turning the dream into a reality is another thing.
The distance between “a dream” and “a reality” is called focus.

We all get inspired by various things or people at different points in life. However, that fire of inspiration does not stay lit inside our hearts for too long.~ Keeping that fire alive requires patience, determination, perseverance, focus and a ‘never give up’ attitude.

Watching a popular singer on TV and wanting to be like him/her is easy. ~ Practicing singing for many years, each day- each night, through sickness and health, without giving up on it –  is difficult.

So many of us, lack the ‘will and focus’ to achieve our dreams. We tend to compromise, accept, adjust to situations, as long as they are fulfilling our basic needs.

Is it so difficult to keep oneself focused?

Why do we say, some people’s talents are God-gifted? And, even if they are, does that mean god will not give any more presents to anyone else throughout his/her life?!!? Is God running short of gifts/talents?

All the people who have been able to make a mark in this world, did not do it by a fluke. They worked hard for many long years ~ It’s said that “Luck favors those who help themselves”.

Imagine, if everyone in the world had the determination to rise to his full potential, wouldn’t we have many more inventions, discoveries, creations and innovations?

Creating something gives immense satisfaction. It provides a feeling of achievement and fulfillment ~ whether the creation is a piece of art or writing or poetry or technology, a story or even a movie!

The thing that stops us from focusing on something is ‘the fear of failure’. We are scared to fail even before we begin! That’s so true for so many of us!

Whoever can conquer that fear and constantly ‘focus’ on his goals, can turn his dream into a reality.
It may not necessarily bring him a lot of money, fame or success ~ but it will provide the satisfaction that his dream has actually turned into a reality – no matter how big or small.

It will be for real! ~ Forever!

Other people will also then respect that reality and appreciate it. The appreciation may or may not matter at that point, because what will matter will be your very own reality.

Dreams-> Focus -> Reality

Don’t Procrastinate….. Contemplate…

How many times have you thought of going to the gym but could not find the time?

How many times did you start reading a book but never finished it?

How many times did you think of learning a new language or following a new hobby but then got busy?

Don’t procrastinate…Contemplate.

Isn’t it strange that we delay some things in life, even though we know for sure, they are good for us. We want to do a task and we plan to do it but then it never happens.

In reality, whenever we procrastinate, there is a reason behind it. There is something stopping us from doing that work. If we dive deeper, we can realize and be sure of what it is. A lot of times its laziness, sometimes it’s fear and other times it’s ignorance.

When ever you make a plan and then do not execute it, think – Why wasn’t I able to complete the task?
Is it because ‘I am incapable of doing it?’ – Most of the times, the answer will be no.
Is it because I am lazy – A lot of times the answer may be Yes.
Is it because its not in my priority list? – This is a tough one!

Do not free yourself or jump to another task until and unless you convince yourself and get the answer to ‘Why you are delaying a task?’

You will be amazed to see, how many of your weaknesses come in front of u. You will be amazed of the opportunities you will discover to improve yourself and get more out of life and out of your plans.

Next time when you say, “Oh! I will get to it someday” or may be, “I’ll do it tomorrow”, think of a reason why you will do it tomorrow and not today?

Most of the time, we only complete the tasks that we are supposed to. But, Life is not a task. Life is an exploration, a discovery. The day we can do more tasks that we think we can, we will be actually exploring possibilities.

The day we can plan and execute our day better, we can help others execute their days better.

Don’t procrastinate – Contemplate.