My wife and I are in the thick of the holiday season, getting ready for another fun couple of weeks with our wonderful daughters, ages seven and three. We got our holiday shopping done early, but the presents are still in bags, waiting to be wrapped. Now, we stand only one week away from the big day, and we still have so much to do!
For me, personally, I am preparing to have a lot on my plate to start the new year. I will be teaching my usual load of college courses, and then I will be adding another teaching assignment. I was honored to be asked by my former college anatomy professor to fill in for her this spring semester, and teach her anatomy course. Maintaining this rigorous schedule would be enough, but then throw on top of it maintaining my website, finding time to write a book, and carving out some more speaking engagements. I’m beginning to wonder where I will find the time to manage it all!
When we get busy, it’s easy for us to look at this huge list of “tasks” or goals that stand before us. The list can be daunting if we look at it all at once. We think about the things that have to be done, and it can cause great anxiety within us. If you let it, it can literally keep you up at night! Each time I start to look ahead at a large number of responsibilities to attend to, I think back to the most influential words I have ever read, coming from Craig Beck’s book, The Secret Law of Subconscious Attraction. Those words are: “Only the ego operates in the past and the future, the soul and God work only in the present.”
I love that! It’s so true! The ego loves to remind us of our failures — the things we didn’t get done today. It adds frustration to our lives, and if we let it, it becomes a part of us. We believe we are failures, and we start living our lives as failures! The ego loves to place that self doubt within us about our capabilities to accomplish what lies ahead of us. It loves to tell us that we’re not quite good enough. We start to contemplate giving up before we start, because we’re not capable.
Both are false — we are not failures, and we are indeed capable! We just have to believe it!
The past can also make us complacent…We can look back at our successes and think the work is over. We’ve accomplished what we needed to and we can rest on our laurels and enjoy the ride. That’s nonsense as well! We are born to be better than that! Every new day is a gift to accomplish something! Every new day is an opportunity to grow and develop!
So, when we look at this daunting list of things to accomplish, or missed opportunities from days gone by, what can we do to overcome the worry, doubt, and anxiety? We can live in the “now.” The ego doesn’t exist in the present. Only our pure self exists there!
Do you have a long list of things to accomplish? Write them down on the list. Start with item number one, and work until number one is accomplished. Cross it off. Move on to number two. Work until that’s done. Cross it off. Keep going. One at a time.
By doing this, you will be working in the present moment at all times. You are focused on what is right in front of your eyes in the here and now. Your list will always be there, so you’ll know what’s next as you move through the list, but you will harness the supreme power of “now” time. You’ll be more efficient; you’ll get more done; you’ll feel extreme accomplishment as you look back on what you did in that “now” time.
When things get tough and the list grows long, remember — there’s no time like “now” time!
This is my last post for 2012. It’s been a great year! Thank you all who helped me become #23 on the list of the “Top 50 Personal Development Blogs!” I am so appreciative! Thank you all for your support this past year. 2012 was a great year. I can’t wait to see what 2013 brings! I wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2013! Best wishes to you always!