What is your relationship with time? Is it loving, harmonious and well balanced? Or, is it strenuous, anxiety provoking and tumultuous?

Over the years, I’ve experienced all of the above and then some. Eventually, I came to understand that the more thoughtful and kind I am with time, the more expansive and kind time is with me.

There is no room for saying one thing and doing another when it comes to time. For example, if I say . . .  time with family and friends is important for me and then proceed to spend the time I have with my family or friends agonizing over work, there will be consequences.

Contentment is based on integrity not on self-sabotage. People who profess one thing and then prove themselves wrong through the choices they make, can never really be content.

We sabotage our efforts for contentment every time we give priority to our distractions. What if you tried the following instead?

• Keep technology where it belongs. We say our relationships are important to us but when we are with our friends or family, we allow ourselves to become distracted by whatever comes our way. Be it a call, a text or an email, we find it impossible to resist the distraction.I observed a couple once at a restaurant – they were having what seemed to be a romantic dinner together, cell phones by their side. When a call or a text came, they immediately responded. Is this the kiss of death for your romantic life or what?

  And, what about the parents who go to their kids’ games and spend the whole time talking on the phone? What about paying attention to the game and connecting with the people next to you? Give your full attention to what’s in front of you and watch it grow.

• Pay yourself first. Schedule time for R & R; Relaxation and Reflection. Have you noticed how you can go mad, at times,  thinking about a project or a solution to a problem but nothing happens? Eventually, you become exhausted and walk away. You go for a ride, or for a walk, or you just get up to get a glass of water, and . . . out of nowhere . . .  a flash of inspiration. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to put some distance between you and the craziness. When you take time to relax and reflect, you find that, the answers you so desperately seek, are right there for you.
• Become really good at saying no. How many times do you catch yourself saying yes, when you meant to say no? That’s where the practice of reflection comes handy. When you are asked to make one more commitment, take a moment, breathe, focus on how your body is reacting to the request, and then answer. If your hear a voice inside whispering or screaming NO!!! then do yourself a favor and pay attention.

© 2010 Yota Schneider, Open for Success. May be distributed if full attribution is given and copyright notice is included. Contact yota@openforsuccess.com

Related posts:

1. Where Does Time Go?
2. Time to breathe: 3 daily habits that can make a difference
3. What’s on your mind?
4. Running Late?