Are You a Slave to Time?

Sometimes I think I have read and heard everything in the fields of time management, productivity, and organizing. I got a big lesson to the contrary when I just read The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level, by Gay Hendricks. (book cover image from Harper Collins) (Link to Amazon Kindle edition) (Link to Amazon hardcover edition)

The book says that we should shift from thinking of time in a scarce, Newtonian way and start thinking in abundant "Einstein Time." Did you ever notice how time "flies" when you are having fun but slows down when doing something you don't like? It's all relative. The author says that to help shift our thinking, we should put ourselves on a diet (sound familiar?) of complete abstinence from complaining about time. We are acting as if time is the persecutor and we are its victims. There are numerous references we make throughout our days that bring us into a severe scarcity mindset about time. From the book, here's a list of some:

• "I wish I had time to stop and chat, but I'm in a hurry."
• "Where did the time go?"
• "There simply aren't enough hours in the day."
• "If only I'd gotten another hour of sleep."
• "Love to talk but I've gotta run..."
• "I have to get to the bank..."
• "I don't have time to do that right now."

Hendricks says that the last one is particularly good to eliminate. When you say you don't have time to do something, you're really saying, "I don't want to do that right now." He says, "By placing the blame on time, you avoid confronting the blunt truth of the matter."

There is a lot more to his chapter on time, but this one lesson is a home run... we are always CHOOSING how we spend our time, and yet we act like we have no choice. We do. It's all about priorities. When we answer people we can take the blame off "time" and put it more truthfully where it belongs-- on our choices and priorities. You can say that you don't want to do something, or that you'd like to finish something else first. He says he is not advocating being rude, only that you consciously stop using it as an excuse.

What if it were true that you are the SOURCE of time, and not that you are ruled by it? It's a radical idea. What do you think? Share in the comments! And if you have read this book, you'll know there is SO MUCH MORE to talk about. This one is a life-changer, you guys. I have been thinking about it nonstop and probably will write some more about it. Thank you to my friend Renee Trudeau for introducing me to it.

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Comments

[Patti DeNucci]

Love this Lorie. Moving from a mindset of feeling like there is never enough time, then shifting to a mindset of sufficiency, and THEN realizing the abundance of time we really do have (if we choose wisely, set boundaries, say "no" to what doesn't matter, quit procrastinating, and get clear on what we want) is so empowering. I had a day like that today -- I am heading out of town and HAD to get certain things done. And I did it. I just chose to have enough time for what mattered. I let the rest of the distractions and not-important things fall away. It was a eureka moment. Such a well timed blog post!!

[Liz]

Hi Lorie, yes the one about "I haven't got the time to do that right now"..is very true! I use it all the time to avoid things that I don't want to do. The truth is, I know I have the time to do it, but I'd rather be doing something else! If I said to someone that I didn't want to do it, they would be offended - but if I use the time card, they will always accept it. This article has just shown me how much I take on I don't actually want to do! Hmmmmm better have a rethink about volunteering in future.

[Heidi Lewis]

Thank you for sharing, Lorie and I agree with Gay's concept....it's all a matter of priorities and these days there are so many many choices for how to spend our time.

[Ellen Delap]

Great post Lorie! It is all about decision making and prioritizing! How do we make this happen in our lives? Think about going cold turkey on what is really important and just saying no to the rest. Drop out of those things that have lost importance and feel the freedom. It is really empowering!

[R. Cauthron]

As I see it, there's a subtle, though important, difference between saying "I don't have the time" and "I haven't taken the time" to do certain things. The latter means you're taking responsibility for the choice to not do something....not playing the victim.

[E. Becker]

When presented with an 'opportunity to help/get involved/make a difference' that will totally sabotage my life and time, we need a pre-programmed response, or we'll say 'Sure I'll help' before we realize the words have been said.
I've found smiling regretfully, saying, 'That sounds great--unfortunately I'm on a 'sabattical' of sorts, so I won't be able to help this time. I know you understand. I know you'll find the perfect people to help you now--let me know how it turns out,' seems to soothe the asker and keep me from total self-destruction!!!!!

[Robin]

Plan to purchase the book. Life-altering information.

[Genny Esterline]

Great post Lorie! So true. I think this is a concept my readers would love to hear more about. Next month's theme is Power and this is certainly empowering.
Wasting time is another and I'm sure has roots to something bigger.
Genny
www.connectionsforwomen.com

[Wanda]

Wish my co-worker would recognize this. He chooses not to work on big projects because our boss has minutia for him to do. You make time for what you WANT to do and have NO time for other issues.

[Claudia]

It is life altering. I attribute my recent sucess to this mindset. It is a matter of abundance. There are lots of cliches like "It's all in your mind" etc but it is absolutely true. If you think of EVERYTHING in abundance and not in the spirit of lacking, things become abundant. That's true of time and every other thing. Love, money, health, happiness. Everything is all about how you CHOOSE to think about it. It is a natural law.

[Calva Ledbetter]

Time - the great equalizer - we all have the same amount!