The Time Finder with Paula Eder
The way you use your time is the way you live your life.
Archive for 'Time and Values'
Find Time to Listen to YOU!
Posted on August 26, 2010 by Paula, under Time and Energy, Time and Values.
Finding time to listen to yourself is so important, and sounds so easy … and yet, so often, it seems to be the last thing that we get to … or the first thing we let go of. Can you relate?
Picture your day unfolding. You have priorities and a plan … and everything is going along right on schedule. Then something unexpected happens and you need to re-prioritize.
What’s the most likely thing to get jettisoned? I’m guessing that it will be that half hour you had planned for meditation or journaling or for a quiet walk. Too often, the time slots we reserve for self care or reflection or for simply checking in with ourselves don’t carry as much weight as other priorities.
We tend to not see these things as our responsibility or as key ingredients in our life’s work …. but they are. In fact, I would argue that these activities – these opportunities to LISTEN to ourselves – are precisely what allow us to carry on our life’s work in the most meaningful, HeartBased and SpiritDriven way possible! Listening keeps you connected with YOU and with the deep and personal wisdom that you carry inside.
Here’s another scenario. Again, imagine that your day is buzzing along and you are accomplishing things left and right. Gradually, though, something starts feeling “off” to you. You are cranky, depleted, and can’t wait for the day to just be over.
What do you do? I’m guessing that many or most of us just plough through with whatever is on our To Do lists. But what if you stopped right then and took some time to LISTEN to yourself?
When you greet these unexpected and unplanned moments with compassion and curiosity, they can provide openings into deeper self knowledge. That’s because whatever is pulling at you ALWAYS has something interesting and important to say. It’s all in how you approach this inner voice. If you are annoyed and impatient, then, like anyone would, your inner voice is likely to clam up. But when you are interested and allow it space, you’ll be amazed at what you learn!
Want to explore your Wise Inner Voice more fully? The next interview in my Finding Time HeartBased and EducationRich Teleseries is at 7PM (ET) on Tuesday, September 14 with Soulful Coach Joanna Lindenbaum. Our topic? Activating Your Inner Wisdom: How to Bring Joy and Success into Your Life. Sign up and join us for this free, info-packed teleclass! When you listen to that wise voice inside, the sky’s the limit!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Finding Time for Your Truth – Deepening into Your Life Today!
Posted on June 24, 2010 by Paula, under Time and Energy, Time and Values.
Finding time to pause and reflect will always enhance your productivity and boost your energy. As a time management tool, taking a small break, a deep breath, and touching base with yourself is something that you can count on to recharge your batteries and refresh your attitude.
However, there is an entirely different way to engage in this activity that will not only do what’s mentioned above, but also will connect you with your core values and the wellsprings of your being. This is a gift you can give yourself that is fundamentally rejuvenating and transformative.
Not long ago I wrote an article, posted at E-zinearticles.com titled Time Management Tips – How to Energize Your Spirituality by Evolving Your Relationship With Time. In it, I reflect on the deepening power of the choice that we can make, in each moment, to connect with our deepest selves. Perhaps, as Wallace Stevens wrote, “… the truth depends on a walk around the lake.”
Whenever you choose to pause in the stream of tasks and events that constitute your day … and look within, you are affirming to yourself that your time (and thus your life) belong to you. This sends a powerful message to yourself – that you are autonomous! Embracing this level of responsibility enhances your sense of your own dignity and purpose. And this sense of purpose, in its turn, encourages and energizes your own search for truth.
I don’t mean TRUTH with a capital T. No, I mean the evolving element of depth that is a part of each of us – the element that each of us can access in our lives, when we choose to.
What you discover as you pursue your own search for truth will be varied. At times it may be surprising, disconcerting, or comforting. It’s a risk … opening to your daily and evolving truth. It’s an adventure, too. In many ways, it is THE adventure!
Ultimately, the quiet whisper of your inner truth depends on the times that you choose to pause – the times that you give yourself the gift of this walk around the lake. If you don’t make the space for it in your life, you are missing something basic, rare, and very precious.
How can you find ways to start giving yourself this gift today? If you can’t, what stands in your way? Drop me a line … I’d love to hear!
Speaking of transformational gifts … are you ready to explore your healthiest life? Ready to explore and consider some changes?
The MP3 of my interview with Nutritionist and Clean Eating Coach Wendy Battles-Plasse is just the thing for you! We explored how you can “Start Living Your Healthiest Life Today: Timely Tips on Clean Eating, Self-Awareness and the Power of Prevention.” We’ll send it to everyone who signs up on our teleclass page. This was a jam-packed, info-filled call … and it’s not too late to learn all about healthy eating and prevention from one of the best!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Get to Know Yourself and Journey Deeper into Your Heart!
Posted on June 15, 2010 by Paula, under Time Choices, Time and Values.
Finding time to explore life’s mysteries is something that always enriches us in powerful and unexpected ways. It is also, often, the first thing that we set aside when life gets busy. (And when is life NOT busy?!)
Among the fundamental mysteries of life, our own hearts and minds can frequently present us with some of the biggest puzzles. Do you find that to be true?
- Are there things that you shy away from without understanding why?
- Have you reacted strongly to something and then thought, “Hmmmm, I wonder where that came from?”
- Would you like to tune in more deeply to the stories that you tell yourself?
- Would you like to change some of those stories? The ones that keep you from being your fullest and freest self … and stepping toward your cherished dreams?
I find that the human psyche is an endless trove of treasures just waiting to be discovered by intrepid explorers who take the time to delve down and look around! The mysteries that we harbor, each of us, are there to be uncovered. What is needed is an investment of time … and of listening … to develop an authentic and supportive relationship with ourselves.
And the really good news is that the time investment doesn’t have to be daunting. Small increments is a key mantra to keep in mind whenever you think about time – and especially with a lifelong enterprise like maintaining and deepening your relationship with yourself.
Small increments! It is much more important to be authentic and steady in your connection with yourself, than it is to spend hours at it. Yes, “more time” is great … but given a choice, I would opt for steadiness and frequency every time!
Think of it as tending a garden … working the soil … keeping up with the nurturing and weeding and finding moments to do it. Sometimes you find a Saturday when you can spend several hours gardening. Sometimes you come home from work, gaze at your plants lovingly, pull a weed or two, and move on to other things.
Small increments! What’s important is maintaining the steady engagement and contact. The harvest will come!
Speaking of harvests … the MP3 of my interview with Nutritionist and Clean Eating Coach Wendy Battles-Plasse as we explored how you can “Start Living Your Healthiest Life Today: Timely Tips on Clean Eating, Self-Awareness and the Power of Prevention” is available … and we’ll send it to anyone who signs up on our teleclass page! This was a jam-packed, info-filled call … and it’s not too late to learn all about healthy eating and prevention from one of the best!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Finding Time to Pick 25 Pounds of Blueberries – Clean Eating Tips from Wendy Battles-Plasse!
Posted on June 9, 2010 by Paula, under Self-Care Time, Time and Energy, Time and Values.
Finding time to eat clean, get healthy, and prevent disease won’t necessarily mean picking 25 pounds of blueberries this summer, but one of the things we learned from Wendy Battles-Plasse last night is that it could!
You see, it all depends on creating some quiet space, listening to yourself so you can hear what your body has to say, and then learning to give yourself what you need. For Wendy fresh blueberries are a huge favorite. So last summer, listening to herself meant getting out there when the time and the berries were ripe … and picking buckets of them. Luscious! But she is very clear that for each of us what our bodies want (and need) is generally as different as we are!
So developing and deepening self-awareness is a key to health and prevention. That means learning to notice how our energy shifts and changes, and how different foods make us feel. Here’s just one idea that Wendy shared, for developing greater awareness – she calls it her “Breakfast Experiment”:
Try eating something different for breakfast, each day for 7 days in a row. Keep notes for yourself about how you feel right after the meal … then two hours after. Write down anything special that you notice about your response to the food. Did your energy stay steady or take a nosedive? Did you feel heavy after your meal? Did you like the taste? Nothing is off the table. Anything you notice is important.
This information will not only help you identify the foods that are most healthy and helpful for you … it has the big, added benefit of honing your awareness. This will enhance your perceptiveness and success around all sorts of self care activities!
I absolutely loved my call with Wendy. Her energy is infectious and her practical tips will help you hit the ground running. Eating clean and staying healthy don’t have to be daunting jobs that you add to your already-overflowing To Do List.
Wendy advocates starting small and keeping it simple. Clean eating is really about eating simple, fresh food. Staying healthy is really about creating systems for yourself and then following through on them.
- It isn’t rocket science.
- It’s well within your reach.
That’s the message Wendy conveys on this call. I heartily invite you to sign up for this most recent installment of The Finding Time EducationRich& HeartBased Interview Teleseries! The MP3 of my interview with Nutritionist and Clean Eating Coach Wendy Battles-Plasse as we explored how you can “Start Living Your Healthiest Life Today: Timely Tips on Clean Eating, Self-Awareness and the Power of Prevention” will be available in about 24-hours … and we’ll send it to anyone who signs up!
And, even better, when you sign up, choose our VIP level and you’ll receive a word-for-word transcript of the call, as well as a special gift from Wendy – her 26-minute MP3,”4 Simple Steps to Meal Planning Success.” This audio is jam-packed with Wendy’s easy and practical tips that help put healthy eating within your reach every day!
Don’t miss out! Sign up and learn more about how you can “Start Living Your Healthiest Life Today: Timely Tips on Clean Eating, Self-Awareness and the Power of Prevention.”
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Listen to Your Heart and Expand into Your Truest Self!
Posted on May 19, 2010 by Paula, under Self-Care Time, Time and Energy, Time and Values.
Finding time to slow down and take a breath in the midst of everything that you need to do each day is a challenge that we can all relate to.
What if you’ve come to a place where you feel yourself questioning what you are doing? Maybe you are sensing that you don’t just need to slow down, but you also need to pay attention to that still, small voice that seems to be trying to say something to you?
That can be an even bigger challenge, because it’s always easier (in the short term) to continue on a well-worn path than to open up to your deepest questions … and to the possibility of fundamental (and freeing) change. But if your path doesn’t really suit you, then you are spending your precious energy and time on pursuits that aren’t in sync with your true values and your heart’s call. This ultimately leads to frustration and regret.
The good news is that we can choose to change that for ourselves. And we can begin at any time! All that it takes is the courage and commitment to find the time to truly listen to yourself. Once you open up to your heart’s voice and begin a dialogue with your deepest self, the next steps on your path will become clearer. That’s a guarantee!
It’s not a matter of doing so much as it is a matter of hearing and seeing, experiencing and assimilating … and being willing to let go! There will be changes to be made as you expand into your truest self. And they won’t all be easy. But you will know that they are “right” because of the way they feel in your core.
Are you curious about what your heart has to say to you? Do you already have that dialogue going with yourself? How do you create the space to keep it going? If you’d like to explore this further with yourself, there’s a very informative (and free) teleclass being offered by my friend and colleague Cindy Hudson. It’s titled “3 Keys to Creating Clarity and Connection in the Midst of Chaos” and you can join the exploration on Tuesday, May 25 at 5:00 pm PT / 8:00 pm ET. I think you’ll find it time well spent!
PS: There’s still time to sign up and access the MP3 of my interview with Entrepreneur Energy Coach and Founder of Body Brilliance Krista Hearty as we explored “A Secret Brilliance: How to Tap Into Your Unique Energy and Power.” And, even better, when you sign up, choose our VIP level and you’ll receive a word-for-word transcript of the call, as well as a special gift from Krista – an MP3 of her 20-minute guided visualization, “Present Moment Meditation.”
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Deepen Your Relationship with Time This Valentine’s Day!
Posted on February 9, 2010 by Paula, under Time After Time, Time and Values.
Finding time to deepen our relationships is always time well spent – and what better day to focus on relationships than Valentine’s Day!
I’d like to invite you to do something a little bit different, and take a moment to reflect on how you relate to time this Valentine’s Day. Do you approach it as a friend in your life’s journey? A difficult, sometimes cranky and critical relative? An enemy?
For many, I think the latter is the case, and time becomes an entity that we are in perennial struggle with. And yet, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way. Not at all!
We each can choose how we relate to time – and how we frame that relationship will, in turn, affect everything else in our lives. Indeed, HeartBased Time Management is about learning to redefine our relationships to Time, Meaning, Money … and ourselves!
Here’s a passage from a recent interview that Michelle of Taming Time recently did with me. We discussed how important and basic one’s relationship with time is:
“The way you use your time is the way you live your life.” I certainly apply that to myself and to my own unique relationship with time.
I know, in the core of my being, that time is finite and concrete, and that on some level, every choice that I make is a time choice. Every single time choice that I make, no matter how small or large it may seem, shapes my relationship with time. In the same way that the quality of one’s personal relationships is shaped by the quality of choice that one brings to them, so, too, the quality of the energy one brings to making time choices affects one’s relationship with time (and therefore with life)!
I am in a constant process of looking at this, and developing ever deepening self-intimacy as I do! My relationship with time becomes increasingly organic and internal, and I am better able to place myself in the moment, being fully present, and feeling and expressing gratitude for my environment, my choices, and my life.
It’s an ever-expanding process of going deeper, and seeing the ripples move out, through time!
You can read the whole interview here … and please feel invited to check out Michelle’s blog here! (I’ve added it to our sidebar, too.)
What is your relationship with time like? I invite you to find time, this Valentine’s Day, to celebrate and deepen it! It will enrich you in unexpected and meaningful ways … I promise!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for The Finding Time Success Kit. It’s FREE, and it provides you with key tools for your time success! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Make Your Holidays Yours!
Posted on November 24, 2009 by Paula, under Time Choices, Time and Values.
Finding time to get everything ready for the holidays and finding time to celebrate special times may not always be the same.
As Thanksgiving gets closer and closer, with the December holidays waiting in the wings, I have been thinking about two very different ways we can approach these events. The energy we bring to the holidays can make all the difference in how we experience them!
Do you feel overwhelmed by the holidays? Are they yet another “task” in your already-full schedule? Does it look impossible to get the necessary cooking and shopping and planning done before holiday time arrives? Do you find yourself wishing that you could skip it all?
Maybe it’s time to step back and take another look.
I always encourage people to think of time as a basket. In the basket are all of the things that your have committed your time to. Chances are that your basket is full. Perhaps it is even overflowing. How do you fit something like the holidays into it?
Well, the other thing that I encourage people to do with their basket of time is to take something out when they add something to it. Even as a temporary measure, this is important as a way to relieve stress and keep your expectations realistic.
So, as a first step, add the holidays proactively to your basket of time. Making this your own, proactive choice removes the “victim” energy that can sometimes accompany the holidays – especially if you are feeling stressed and impinged on by them.
Next, think about what you can take out of your basket, temporarily, to give yourself some breathing room!
- Make yourself a quick list of possibilities.
- Don’t remove your self-care time, as that will leave you feeling depleted just when you want to have access to your best energies.
- Act on at least one, and ideally two or three of the possibilities you’ve listed.
- Be sure to let others know, if they will be impacted by your choices.
- Remember that this is a temporary measure! Once the holidays are over, you can return to your regular priorities.
As an added bonus, in letting go temporarily, you may discover that there were things on your list of time priorities that you didn’t actually need to be doing. This can free you up even more going forward!
While we’re talking about holiday planning, here’s something to add to our basket of time for Thursday, December 3 from 7:00-8:15 PM ET! It’s a FREE teleclass offered by my friends and colleagues Cindy Hudson and Maggie McCauley titled: Color Your Holidays With Calm, Confidence & Courage – Tools To Help You Thrive In The Midst Of Holiday Madness. As they say, “If you’re tired of the same ole’ same ‘ole holiday routine and you’re ready to feel calm, confident and courageous all during the holidays this year, come to the class and make this the most effortless and joyful holiday season ever!” Knowing Cindy and Maggie, they are going to have some very useful and inspiring information to share. I encourage you to check it out!
How are you feeling as the holidays approach? Have you made room for them in your basket of time? There’s still time to make proactive choices about it … there’s always time for that … so here’s to your time success!
Want to learn how to set effective boundaries to honor yourself, your time, and your relationships? You can ask for the time and space you need, and get it, too! Claim your FREE MP3, “Honoring Your Time With Boundaries”, and discover tools to move you toward a stronger self and stronger relationships! So, take your next step, click HERE and grab your MP3! When you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) our weekly Finding Time Tips, our monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine, and our Finding Time Personal Boundary Template! All FREE – our gifts to you!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Finding Time When Juggling Multiple Priorities
Posted on July 8, 2009 by Paula, under Time Priorities, Time and Values.
Finding time is often a matter of juggling priorities. This can be a challenge to sort out – especially if you run into a situation in which it’s your most cherished values that are in competition.
Life Transition Coach Paula Harvey recently wrote a blog post about How to Choose Between Passions and offered a helpful example from her own life. She lists 4 questions that she asked herself as she sorted out her predicament:
* What action feels right to me, right now? (not what “should” I do)
* What are the consequences if I choose one passion over the other? Can I live with that consequence?
* What does my heart tell me to do?
* What commitments have I made that I must honor?
These questions tap into the powers of the heart and the mind to help negotiate the challenges of competing priorities. The mind provides the frame while the heart supplies the feelings-based information.
Listening to your heart, for example, you might try on the different alternatives and identify what “feels” right. Then, as a helpful and informative balance, you look to your mind for practical information about probable consequences if you pursue that course.
This gives you authentic, heartfelt and grounded insight into your values and priorities. Combining your heart-based and your adult voices is one of the most powerful and empowering gifts that you can give yourself in ANY situation. This combination will never steer you wrong – unlike the inner critic whose rigid and “should-based” perspective will always take you off track and into the underbrush!
How do you feel when you are juggling competing priorities? Have you tried stepping back and listening to your heart-based and adult voices? How does this work for you? I’d love to hear!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up and download The New Finding Time Boundary Template. It’s FREE, and when you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) my FREE, weekly Finding Time Tips and my FREE, monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Finding Time for What Matters Most
Posted on June 17, 2009 by Paula, under Time and Values.
Finding time to clarify what you value, and then put those values into practice in your everyday life is an ongoing challenge. Yesterday we looked at the impact that our time choices about the internet can have on other things we value – like family time.
Making these time choices consciously, rather than by default, is an important step toward finding time for what matters most.
But what does matter most? This morning, let’s step back and take a look at how clarifying what we value can help us clarify our time choices. In a recent article titled Finding Time by Championing Your Values – 3 Essential Steps to Reclaim Your Time at EzineArticles.com I explored a 3-pronged approach to help you get your values and your time choices into better alignment.
- First, take some time to sit with yourself and identify what you most value. One great avenue for doing this is to visualize your ideal day. Be as specific as you can – the more detail you include, the easier it is to follow your “map.” I suggest that you revisit this exercise fairly often – and at least seasonally. Your ideal day will evolve as you do – and it’s important to keep it fresh and in sync with where you actually are!
- Next, look at your actual day. Be factual and dis-invite your inner critic (who may be very eager to help with this part of the exercise)! What do you typically do? Where do you get bogged down? What goes smoothly? Be as specific as possible – each small moment is important. Pay particular attention to your feelings as you do this.
- Your third task is to put your two days side by side, and identify places where you can bring elements of your ideal day into your real day. It’s important to be concrete and realistic here, so that you do not set yourself up for failure. Recognize that change can be a challenge, and some changes may take more than one step. Start small and build toward success!
Finding time to live your values is one of the most rewarding time management tasks you can undertake. As you make your time choices more consciously, you’ll find the time for what matters most – guaranteed. Give it a try … and let me know how it goes for you!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up and download The New Finding Time Boundary Template. It’s FREE, and when you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) my FREE, weekly Finding Time Tips and my FREE, monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Finding Time to Be Thankful for Little as Well as for Much
Posted on May 29, 2009 by Paula, under Time and Values.
Finding time for gratitude is something that we’ve written about in the past, here on The Time Finder. When we express gratitude, what do we express it for? Is gratitude about size or quantity or something else entirely? If you make me dinner, it seems obvious that I will thank you. If you give me a drink of water on a hot day, do I do the same? I would — but perhaps some would not.
Why is that?
Today I’d like to focus on an aspect of gratitude that is summed up in the following proverb:
Who does not thank for little will not thank for much. Estonian Proverb
Gratitude has to do, not so much with the actions of others, but with the expectations that we have about life.
If I expect others to give me what I need or want, then when they do so, I’m not so much grateful as satisfied that my expectations are being fulfilled. Conversely, if I do not carry that expectation then I am frequently and pleasantly surprised by kind or generous gestures … and I feel grateful for them.
On the flip side of this coin, if I expect others to give me what I need or want, when they do NOT do so, I am likely to feel let down and disappointed. This is a big energy drain. If I do not harbor that unrealistic expectation, I am not setting myself up for disappointment.
Approaching each moment with minimal expectations helps us to notice the small and large gifts that come our way almost constantly in our lives. The key is not about the size of the other person’s gesture but about the expectations that we bring to our lives.
The attitude of gratitude enriches our moments and relieves us of the perpetual disappointment that unrealistic expectations bring.
Do you find time to feel grateful and to say thank you? I’d love to hear!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up and download The New Finding Time Boundary Template. It’s FREE, and when you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) my FREE, weekly Finding Time Tips and my FREE, monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
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