One Best Way

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Susan L. Farrell

Sometimes finding the best way to do something can make us more effective and more efficient. Often, however, it doesn’t matter whether it was done the best way possible or not—it just matters that it was done.

Things don’t always have to be completed in the most efficient or most effective way possible, especially if we consider the time and energy involved in finding the best way.

Do you waste time and energy by trying to find the one best way to do something? Would it sometimes be better if you just did it?

Fear

Posted on January 22, 2019 by Susan L. Farrell

Fear of something, someone, or even a group, is often related to fear of the unknown. If we learn about whatever it is we fear, often we lose our fear.

What do you fear? Is your fear misplaced? Would you lose your fear if you learned more about whatever it is that causes a feeling of fear in you?

Would You Miss It?

Posted on January 16, 2019 by Susan L. Farrell

In determining how I most want to spend my time, a question I have been asking myself is: “If I didn’t do it anymore, would I miss it?” I have been coming up with some interesting answers.

There are some things that I quickly and easily know that I would miss. Examples include spending time with family and friends (and cats), traveling, reading, writing, and many other things.

There are some things that I know I would not miss, but I would miss the results. For example, if I never had to do house cleaning again, I would not miss it. However, I would really miss not having a clean house, so I guess I’ll continue to clean house.

About a year ago I decided not to do speaking engagements to create more time for writing. I found that I didn’t really miss it, even though I enjoyed doing it. I think it might be because the time was filled with something I enjoyed even more, writing.

There is an association for which I have conducting training workshops for years. I decided to reduce the number of sessions I did last year and to eliminate doing sessions this year. The reason was to create more time for other things. I was a little worried that I would miss it. Although there are a few things I miss, such as the people, overall, I don’t miss it. I think it’s mostly because I have filled the time with things I enjoy more.

Think of all the things you are doing. Are there things that you could stop doing to create time for other things? If you did stop doing these things, would you miss them? If not, maybe it’s time to consider letting go of some of these things.

Best Use of Time

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Susan L. Farrell

It’s another new year and again I am reflecting on what I have done and what I need/want to do. I find that over the years, my answers are changing, or maybe evolving.

A question I have frequently asked myself for decades is “What is the best use of my time?” It has served me well and has made me more productive and more successful.

At this point in my life (semi-retired), however, I’m not sure that is the best question anymore. Or at least not the best question to ask if I use it solely to determine how to be more productive. I think a better question might be “What do I want to do most with my time?”

My husband has been retired for a couple of years now. The grandkids bought him a sign for the basement: “Retired. Don’t want to. Don’t need to. Can’t make me!” It’s humorous. The more I think about it, the more I realize there is wisdom in it as well. If I don’t want to do something, and I don’t need to do it, the only person that is making me do it is me. Why? Why am I making myself do something that I don’t want and don’t need to do?

I think this year I will try to eliminate more of the things that I do out of habit or a false sense of necessity and focus more on the things that I truly want to do.

How about you? Can you let go of things that you don’t need to do and don’t even want to do to free up time for the things that matter most?