Living Intentionally
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009This weekend I talked at length with a delightful young lady who finds her life rather unfocused and lacking meaning in several areas. And from such conversations I always learn a lot about myself.
My friend already demonstrates enormous talent, and accomplishes a great deal at school. Realistically, I had to tell her that to address the accomplishment gap she feels, overall, she needs to be more intentional about her time outside of school - planning what to do with afternoons, evenings and weekends.
We talked about the overall areas that matter, and need some balance, in her life. She has already developed a great menu of enjoyable and necessary activities around these five core areas:
- spiritual nurture,
- physical wellness,
- cultural,
- community, and
- academics.
We read part of Ivan Campuzano’s “What Time is It? Time To Reexamine Your Relationship To Time.”
[B]eyond its utility value, should we care about it in terms of how we choose to live our day to day lives? Should I waste my valuable time constantly worried about events in my distant future? Or should I use my time to live as intensely as possible in the now, and take the necessary actions that will set in motion the conditions of my future reality?
So what creates our psychological relationship and therefore attachment to time? The short answer is that our thoughts are what create our time. If you have ever reached a place of “no mind” where your thoughts cease, either through meditation or an intense experience, you will understand what it means to have a “timeless” mind. No thoughts, no time. As soon as thoughts enter, time enters.
With that in mind, I would like you to take the time to examine your common thought and internal dialogue. What does it say about your relationship to time and how that impacts your life? Are you constantly on the run and feel like you don’t have enough time? Do you feel anxious and stressed all the time? Is it really that you don’t have enough time, or can it be attributed to incessant or disorderly thinking?
Since my young friend already has plenty of good well-balanced ideas for her life, but doesn’t seem to have time to get on with those ideas, that last question is the key. Learning to “live in the now” and work with a 15 minute day-planner is, I think, her best way to take control, accomplish more, and be happier.
Making a plan for each day is one thing. The harder bit is to actually focus your mind to execute that plan. That means trying to get each thing done just a bit faster than the time you’ve allotted to it, and moving on when the time is up. And it means forgiving yourself when the day doesn’t quite work out according to plan. As long as you’re doing the most important thing at each moment, and spending time in each of your core areas, you’ll be on the right track. And so will I.
Ivan has written several excellent reflections on time, and personal growth. Check them out, when you can make time 
E.g.
- each day, what if before you try to remember who you are, you remember what you want to be?
- many come to think that their mind is something they cannot control — master your mind;
- one day at a time to a life of fulfillment, joy and contribution
- making the most of your daily time; and the counter-balance:
- Pura Vida, tranquilo amigo tome su tiempo
