“All that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that.”
This quote, by Baltasar Gracian, gives us a different perspective of time. It’s the only thing we all really have. Even someone with absolutely nothing has it. But when it comes to free time, we don’t all have the same amount. And what we physically possess isn’t always a predictor of the intangible time we have. For instance, someone who’s amassed a great deal of wealth can have less or just as much free time as someone with significantly fewer assets. Moreover, they may not even have much time to enjoy the things they have. At the end of the day, when it comes to time, it really doesn’t matter…
“If you don’t have time for the small things, you won’t have time for the big things”
Many of us want to achieve and experience big things. However, we often overlook a key ingredient: the culmination of small things needed to get to the big thing. This quote, by Richard Branson, reminds us that there’s no way we’ll have time for the big things if we don’t have time for the small ones. Not having time for the small things is like trying to run a marathon without having time to train. It’s like trying to do anything requiring fortitude without dedicating time for practice, preparation, and even self-care. So what small things make up your big thing? What small things do you need to make time…
“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”
Often, it seems there’s never enough hours in the day or that several years go by before we know it. This quote, by Michael Altshuler, helps us come to terms with the fact that time tends to fly by. It marches on no matter what we do, and there’s no technology out there that can ever slow or rewind it. However, if time was an aircraft “flying by”, we are the pilot. And there are a couple things we can do to control its speed. First we can change how we perceive each day and moment. This means not taking each day and moment for granted and being more in…
“Focus on being productive instead of busy.”
Society tends to give someone who spends most of their day busy more respect than someone spending most of it relaxing. We tend to perceive busyness as a good thing, while productivity takes a backseat. This quote by The Four Hour Work-Week author, Timothy Ferriss, reminds us to refocus our attention on productivity. Life is short. So we should try to use the time we are busy to be as productive as possible. That way we can have more time to smell the roses.
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“Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another.”
“Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all. When there’s a big disappointment, we don’t know if that’s the end of the story. It may just be the beginning of a great adventure.”
“All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.”
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
This quote, by Stephen Covey, is about not being so focused on a schedule or to-do list. Instead, it encourages us to reflect on what is on it. Are the things on it all that important? Or should we be prioritizing other things? Are those other priorities being neglected? Yes, it’s important to prioritize our schedules. However, it’s equally important to make sure we are making time in our schedules for the things that matter to us most.
“Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.”
It’s natural to daydream as we envision the future. Of course, everything is perfect. We’re more in shape, we’ve accomplished all our goals, we’re more grounded and at peace, we’re content, all our relationships are thriving–the list goes on. But why cant that future be now? That’s what this quote by, Malala Yousafzai, is about. Why not “make our future now,” and “make our dreams tomorrow’s reality?” Let’s try our best to live our future today.
“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”
This quote is by the legendary painter, Pablo Picasso. It serves as a great reflection on the things we choose to put off, or procrastinate. Yes, there are things we can’t possibly get done in one day. Even if we work on them all day, we may need more time; and completion may have to be “put off” until tomorrow. However, we can still use the day to make progress. So imagine the thing(s) you constantly put off never getting done–Period. Next, consider how that makes you feel. Are you willing to live with that possibility? If not, that means the thing (or those things) you put off deserve more…
The Problem of Perfectionism and “Product” Goals
Recently, I was talking to a friend about goals. We all have them. And if you don’t, get yourself some. But I digress…As we were sharing our goals, she asked me a simple question about one of mine. She asked me when the book I’m working on will be published. I had no response. Even worse, I hadn’t given enough thought or planning on it to know the answer. The truth is, I feel like it’ll never be done. The finish line seems so far in the distance that I sometimes forget it’s there. I actually stop moving toward it. The truth is, I often go months at a time…
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What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.
“There is no such thing as a ‘self-made’ man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.”
Living Life Poetically: Keep On
Why We All Need to Have Things to Look Forward to
What are you looking forward to, besides your next day off work? I asked myself this question and realized the sad truth. Lately, I’ve been so busy that the weekend is all I ever look forward to. It’s my days off, time to get more sleep, do errands, hang out with friends and family, and occasionally get more work done. But there has to be more to life than anticipating the next weekend filled with the same old activities. After a while, the same pattern starts to get old. But sometimes, when you don’t have anything really exciting to look forward to, you have to create it. One thing I…
Break Time: Why Regular Work Breaks Are a Must
I have a very hard time taking breaks while I’m working on something. There’s always that one more thing I want to finish–There’s always that constant search for the perfect stopping point. Inevitably, the stopping point I had in mind comes and goes without any pause. But what if taking regular breaks between work is a routine part of one’s day? What if it comes so naturally that you don’t even think much about it–you don’t feel like you have to try to squeeze it in? Just imagine how much better any unpleasant task would be with more pleasant things interspersed in between. Well, that’s just one reason to take…
