"I don't have time to do yoga (meditate, exercise, spend time with my loved ones, pet my cat, see the sunset, sleep 8 hours per night, eat right...
So, then, you DO have time to feel like shit?
fill in the blank with your STORY )." So, then, you DO have time to feel like shit?
I don't mean to be crass, but I do mean to get your attention. What is your story for why you don't have time? Do you know what your story is costing you?
This isn't another discussion about "making the time" or prioritization. I believe that if you're here, you've already heard plenty of those. What I invite you to consider is what you are truly costing yourself when you don't have/make the time to be a healthy you. Would you be more effective if you were well rested? Would you need less words if you were not so tightly strung? Could it take less exercise if you were eating right? Would your actions have more impact if you were coming from a place of being grounded?
I know a person, who I respect VERY much, and who bears some of the largest stress loads I can personally imagine. We'll call them Jo. Jo recently shared with me that she was feeling a little out of control - a little fearful and thus worried. If you knew Jo, you'd be shocked - she is the picture of having it all together while having it all. What could Jo possibly be scared of and worried about?! If Jo is worried, I should be medicated.
But Jo was worried - and not at peace. And I think the reason why is because Jo DOES so much but isn't grounded. Jo eats well, sees sunsets, spends time with friends, is a successful business owner, a solid parent, a devoted spouse... but Jo still wasn't grounded... Jo was all over the place. Thus, she felt weak, fearful, and just plain off.
I suggested to Jo that she find something to ground her. I threw out yoga (of course!), structured personal reflection, meditation, daily walks, and other ideas. What landed was mediation. Jo isn't a person who mediates. Jo is a person who you'd see and say "They. Don't. Meditate." - but she is a person who wanted to feel grounded. So, she started meditating. She didn't know how to "do" it (I suggested some breathing and posture and clearing techniques... and then books and other references that know so much more than I know). But, she made the time and the space, and Jo meditated. At present, Jo mediates twice a day for 10 minutes. Not a huge time commitment, but a real one.
And you know what? Jo feels better. Jo DOESN'T feel like shit. Jo found/made the time to do what it takes to be a better version of Jo.
You're busy. You do a lot. You are an impressive person. Truly. You also know if you are putting something off or dismissing something that will make you less busy, more effective and even more impressive... to yourself. For yourself.
There is time to do the work. 1 + 1 doesn't always = 2. Here, it just doesn't. 1 (time doing what you know you need to do and will help you) + 1 (trust that the time you give to doing it will give you more than the investment in return) = 100 gajillion times more effectiveness and a happier you.
This isn't another discussion about "making the time" or prioritization. I believe that if you're here, you've already heard plenty of those. What I invite you to consider is what you are truly costing yourself when you don't have/make the time to be a healthy you. Would you be more effective if you were well rested? Would you need less words if you were not so tightly strung? Could it take less exercise if you were eating right? Would your actions have more impact if you were coming from a place of being grounded?
I know a person, who I respect VERY much, and who bears some of the largest stress loads I can personally imagine. We'll call them Jo. Jo recently shared with me that she was feeling a little out of control - a little fearful and thus worried. If you knew Jo, you'd be shocked - she is the picture of having it all together while having it all. What could Jo possibly be scared of and worried about?! If Jo is worried, I should be medicated.
But Jo was worried - and not at peace. And I think the reason why is because Jo DOES so much but isn't grounded. Jo eats well, sees sunsets, spends time with friends, is a successful business owner, a solid parent, a devoted spouse... but Jo still wasn't grounded... Jo was all over the place. Thus, she felt weak, fearful, and just plain off.
I suggested to Jo that she find something to ground her. I threw out yoga (of course!), structured personal reflection, meditation, daily walks, and other ideas. What landed was mediation. Jo isn't a person who mediates. Jo is a person who you'd see and say "They. Don't. Meditate." - but she is a person who wanted to feel grounded. So, she started meditating. She didn't know how to "do" it (I suggested some breathing and posture and clearing techniques... and then books and other references that know so much more than I know). But, she made the time and the space, and Jo meditated. At present, Jo mediates twice a day for 10 minutes. Not a huge time commitment, but a real one.
And you know what? Jo feels better. Jo DOESN'T feel like shit. Jo found/made the time to do what it takes to be a better version of Jo.
You're busy. You do a lot. You are an impressive person. Truly. You also know if you are putting something off or dismissing something that will make you less busy, more effective and even more impressive... to yourself. For yourself.
There is time to do the work. 1 + 1 doesn't always = 2. Here, it just doesn't. 1 (time doing what you know you need to do and will help you) + 1 (trust that the time you give to doing it will give you more than the investment in return) = 100 gajillion times more effectiveness and a happier you.