Hi Everyone,

Many blessing to all of you across the world.

SOGR is one of those places that I enjoy a lot to visit, comment and just read for a quick reminder on the principles.

At the moment, especially in the last few weeks, I am having an issue with my time management. I am stuck on completing many necessary tasks with everything in my life at the moment.

It's somewhat at a stand still. I have no idea why or how to make it all happen, Like Doing today's work. I've done many exercises etc., but I am not making a shift.

I know exactly what tasks need to happen for the day but I can't get motivated to complete them all.

Meanwhile things are being completed at snail pace on my end for commitments I have.

I am producing two shows, started new theater classes, planning the necessary steps to fulfill the grant requirements for a new theater outreach program we just received, working a part time job, promoting our projects, and things in my personal life.

It sounds like a lot but it's not when done in a timely structured manner. I am also not doing all of the above on my own. I do have others involved. It's easy work but I can't get motivated.

So I am asking for any ideas, suggestions. Perhaps one of them will spark a shift or different perception.

Appreciation from the Heart,

Richard De Haven

Perhaps I need to reboot. Rebecca didn't you recently shared something about that? Can't find the link to it.

Things that work for me:

choose the five or six most important things to do for the day the night before, put them in whatever planner you use, and stick to them - works best with the old "eat the frog" thing of putting the most tedious/unpleasant item first, and getting it out of the way so the rest of the day seems like a nice downhill glide!

conversely, if you're stuck, set a timer to 15 or 30 minutes and do an easy "can-do" task like filing or re-arranging something in the office, so you have a sense of achievement that makes it easier to get moving again;

imagine the outcome next week if they're still not done, try for a moment to feel that emotion - remember that children leave the best bit of a cake or meal until last, because then they get to enjoy the IDEA of it all through the rest of their meal, and just in the same way, putting things off casts their shadow over tasks that would otherwise be quite enjoyable;
(Negative motivation like this isn't suitable all the time IMO, but it can be a bucket of cold water sometimes and shake things up just enough!)

make sure your paper or digital planners are working for you, sometimes you might want to change things up and keep them fresh, and make sure they cover a relevant period of time: monthly calendars don't work for me because of that sense towards the end of the month that the next one is still a whole PAGE away (!) so I like a 6-week to view grid I print out myself (just 6 x 7 cells in a Word table, expanded, and I add the date numerics manually) and then renew when I get into the last fortnight - that's just my way, have something visible with deadlines on that works best for YOU, that way they won't slip your awareness;

really cheesy but - JUST DO IT - set a timer for five minutes and do some of a task that leaves you as enthusiastic as cold porridge, but once you see what you can achieve in 5 minutes you'll either keep going to get it cleared, or at least you can tackle it in little nibbles...

I have no idea if these address your situation Richard but I've read a lot of stuff about time-management etc over the years because it was a weak spot, and these are the tips they generally agree upon, and that have really helped me as well.

Sometimes you can trick motivation by sneaking a task in bites until it's half done, and the rest looks far more do-able...

PS there's probably loads of pure LoA stuff you can do with a CMI of how you'll feel with a "cleared desk" etc and I'll mention it, but someone else has probably got a better way of describing it!

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your post, and I've had similar experiences in the past! Just curious, are these projects part of your CMI or are they sort of side things you need to do now while your CMI is developing?

The reason I ask is that in the past I have often put my tasks into two categories: ones taking me towards my CMI and ones that I have to do now. As a musician, practising my instrument or promoting a concert would be in the first category, while working at my part time job or doing a lesson plan for one of my schools would be in the second.

As a result, it was really hard to do the things in the second category because I didn't see the point and frankly didn't want to do them. I guess I sort of viewed them as a waste of time.

However, SOGR says that there is one substance and it responds to all thought and all action. And you have to do everything in the certain way. This one took me a bit to get my brain around but I think I have it figured out.

Whenever you are doing something that appears to be unrelated to your CMI, you act as if it is related directly to your CMI. Before you do something, just try to imagine that if you did this one thing really really great, a genie would magically appear and grant your CMI. How much energy would you put into that action? When I think of it this way, I suddenly feel really motivated to do my absolute best!

It can be with anything: lesson plans, taxes, cleaning, budgeting, even getting on a bus can become an exercise in acting in the certain way. Remember, WW says that you should hold the vision of what you want to become while you act with all your power on where you are now.

Now if the things you are having a hard time getting motivated for actually are obvious steps towards your CMI, then maybe it's time to dig a bit and make sure your CMI is what you really want. And if so, perhaps it just needs a bit more fleshing out and clarifying. To be honest, some days I do feel a bit unmotivated about my CMI (although those days are getting less and less.) But if I just sort of sit with it and consider what my life will be like with my dream job, then I gradually start to feel more and more motivated. But it's something that comes from the thought; I have never been able to force myself to feel excited.

Anyway, does that help? Those were my thoughts based on my understanding of your post, but if I've missed the mark, just let me know!

David

Hi Richard,
For me, this happens when I am challenged with something new or different, or something that has given me difficulty in the past. Basically, what paralyzes me is fear of failure.

I recently went through this with an order from my brother for 2 Italian maiolica tiles. Italian maiolica has always been a challenge for me due to lack of technical knowledge (I am totally self-taught in this area) as well as the challenge of procuring the proper materials. Clear, crisp detail is important for me, and when it doesn't happen, I go totally ballistic, especially after spending hours on a project only to have it wind up smudgy after firing. And I love what I do! So with my brother's order, I kept putting it off and could NOT get motivated and could not understand why at first.

Did some EFT,(great way to reboot BTW) and what came up was my frustration in not getting the desired clear detail and the trial and error and time required to do so. I finally made one set using a different technique, and they peeled after firing. A whole day's work gone, grrr! Got PO'd and smashed them, LOL That felt good! So I did some more EFT over it, tried again, and still not quite the clear detail, but better. I refired them using yet a different glaze, and they came out okay-not perfect, but acceptable.

What the bottom line for me was not so much time management, but wanting to avoid the frustration and failure. EFT allowed me to face it, and trying again allowed me to learn and as a result, I am overcoming the technical issues.

Something in your subconscious old programming (with me, it was "failure is not an option and you will feel like an idiot")is blocking you. I have found that feeling unmotivated is an avoidance tactic. I have to do EFT to figure out what it is, unblock it, release the old programming, and then be able to work through it.

In your case, you say that others are helping you. Could it be some old stuff coming up with interpersonal relationships? That's often a biggie for me.

Hope this helps!

(((HUGS))))
Julia

Well, Richard, for starters: What does this have to do with "time management?"

More later ...

quote:

Originally posted by Richard De Haven:

At the moment, especially in the last few weeks, I am having an issue with my time management. I am stuck on completing many necessary tasks with everything in my life at the moment.

It's somewhat at a stand still. I have no idea why or how to make it all happen.

I like the intimation of the question - "why?" (i.e., I have no idea why ...") Could be a very good question

Also like that you talked about it being a "motivational" issue. One thing I really liked about that is that you did NOT call it a discipline issue. Motivation is SUCH a better (from my perspective) way to look at it.

I sometimes go through phases like you described - going through one now. This is what I am doing this time...

First I just stopped.

I had already made out the list of things I wanted to accomplish. Sounds like you've done that too. Just have to get it all out of my head and down on paper.

Then I remembered what a wise friend once told me. "Leslie, you only REALLY have to do what you do." I don't know why this settles me down but it does. "the fact that you are alive today is PROOF that you didn't have to do the stuff you DIDN'T do..."

Then I contemplated my CMI. I got myself into my happy place. I literally sat still and waited until the next right action became obvious. And then I did it. It wasn't what I THOUGHT I had to do!

When done with that, I repeated. (I've been doing this for the last 2 days. No, I'm NOT getting it all done, but I'm in action, I'm doing exactly what I need to do. And I am FEELING so much better.)

And as soon as Rachel checks in, she will remind you to be kind to yourself. You are wonderful.

Hi!

Leslie, I LOVED your process. That's pretty much what I do.
Step 1: STOP (stop stressing, stop running, stop criticizing yourself)
Step 2: Relax and realize that none of that stuff is nearly as important as you think it is. In fact, you'd probably keep breathing even if you didn't do ANY of it.
Step 3: Feel better. Do WHATEVER it takes to get into your happy place.
Step 4: Contemplate your CMI -- because presumably the only reason you want to do any of the stuff on your list anyway is to get to your CMI, right?
Step 5: "WAIT until the next right action becomes obvious." I love the way Leslie put that.

Now, Richard, I also think that there is something to be said for exploring the REASONS for your reluctance, as Ancient Soul suggested. And doing little bits to get you going as Fountainblue recommended sounds like it could help, too. Of course, Posaune quoted Wally to us when he suggested doing today's work in the Certain Way (that is, AS IF it were the only thing standing between you and your CMI.)

Those are all good ideas. We have a lot of really wise people on this forum, ya know? In fact, I have nothing to add.

I really only posted because Leslie dared me too.

Oh, yeah -- and be kind to yourself.

Love and blessings,
Rachel

I think I remember someone saying. Time management does not exist. It is always priority management.

And I agree with Rachel: much wise advice has already been given in this discussion

God bless you,

Caroline
We pay you CASH for surfing (1:1 ratio) and for referring new members

I appreciate everyone from my heart for taking the time to share your insights. You are all a great example of people caring for people, even those you don't know personally.

It also demonstrates how very much alike we all are.

It's funny that after I posted my above comment I instantly realized, and as Rebecca states above, that this was not really an issue of time management.

This past week in the midst of all the busyness of putting a show together and taking time to reflect on my feelings and thoughts there were a few things that came up for me.

1. I am not fully living all parts of my CMI and it's been affecting me. I am very clear on my CMI. What it feels like and looks like.

I really love theater, working with kids and I am working on that part of my life.

In fact I've had many awesome successes. My vision of creating a performing arts school is taking shape. We got our first grant to do theater outreach to all the local schools and we are now holding two classes and we expanded our space. We also added two new shows to the season. So this part of my CMI seems to be working.

The other part of my CMI is being a great storyteller sharing the immense power of Appreciation and finding and telling joyful stories of those who are and have created a life they love and enjoy.

I have on a few occasions started to follow through with these with my videos and writings but I have allowed my theater work to consume most of my time to the point I come home tired and just want to go to bed.

So I was feeling depressed, frustrated, about not following through with the full picture, feeling that I will never fulfill that part of my CMI and that the theater I love so much will consume so much of me that It will stop being fun.

I have help and lots of it when it comes to putting a show together (currently have 35 crew on one show) but the day to day stuff falls on just two of us.

ahhh! Growing pains.

So the part that scared me most, like I shared above, is never fulfilling the entire vision I have for my life.

There are many other excuses that have arisen from this but the one above is the biggie.

Coming to accept that this feeling has been very real to me is giving me greater freedom to explore how it all can evolve beautifully.

The other realization that I noticed is I seem to raise large amounts of money when I become really in need of more.

I having been saying for a long time why is it that when I have a project to complete I can raise money for it and then go through most of it to complete the project leaving me with very little and then start all over again from scratch.

Every time I raise money I raise more than the last time. The last project I raised over $100,000. 10 years ago that number was $5,000.

so I've definitely changed something in my thinking to be able raise larger amounts but there is another belief lurking to examine. It's like living paycheck to paycheck but with bigger amounts.

How exciting to be aware of all this. I love it all. Contemplation, awareness, and inspired action does lead to freedom.

I am going to bed now, I have rehearsals in 8 hours. Have a great day.

Appreciation from the Heart,

Richard De Haven

Possibly it's more an issue of Motivation or Energy Management than actual time management?

I do think that I usually aim to schedule my activity around the 'size' of the things I value the most, and the big- (and also smaller) sized projects are based on those values, and the activities that come out of it.

I do think that the 'size' of them fuels my motivation while when I only schedule - in time - I can end up doing things because the time schedule dictated it at a certain time, being at risk that it's not alway's at the same time that I am actually motivated for it.

I hope this makes any sense

Hi HP,

Thank you for your comment. I do understand what you are conveying. I agree it's about motivation and energy.

My motivation and energy was coming from fear. It's a fear that I felt very strong but was not acknowledging. That fear dictated my "time management". My motivation has shifted especially in the past week.

Doing many of the exercises above helped to remove the blocks to the awareness of the fear. And now I can release thoughts of my fear of never living all aspects of my CMI.

Appreciation from the Heart,

Richard De Haven

Richard, what you wrote on Feb 4 is a pretty clear image of what tends to happen to us when we get all caught up in the how (when, where, who, etc.) and trying to make it happen.

And, yes, some version of fear is often involved. That's why I so prefer INSPIRED action to merely MOTIVATED action. I've said that many times before in these forums, but I can use the reminder myself.

To me, inspired action is what we jump into when we feel: "Oh, boy! If I do this, look at the great stuff it'll lead to." And merely motivated action is more like: "Oh, crap. If I don't do this, look at all the horrible stuff that will happen."

Maybe Wally was thinking something similar when he told us to let go of the paralyzing "how" and take a bit of time simply to get back to the big picture, the CMI that so powerfully inspired us before:

"When you are in doubt, wait. Fall back on the contemplation of your vision, and increase your faith and purpose. And by all means, in times of doubt and indecision, cultivate gratitude.

"A day or two spent in contemplating the vision of what you want and in earnest thanksgiving that you are getting it will bring your mind into such close relationship with the supreme that you will make no mistake when you do act."

Sounds to me like your idea to take a step back is a good one. We can NEVER see the big picture -- which includes all the wonderful bits now and in the future -- when we've got our noses jammed right up against all the "how" right this minute.

Relax into all of this. Have FUN with it. Let it be easy. (And that gets easier and faster and all-'round better with good ol' practice.)

(BTW, I'm not so sure digging around for "negative" beliefs to root out is such a great idea. Where does doing THAT put your focus, faith, and feeling? Maybe just go back to the joyful CMI and focus THERE instead. Doing that -- contemplating frequently as our pal Wally advises -- will build new neural pathways by itself.)