My Time and Life Balance

I put a great deal of time and energy into building my career.  There always seems to be something that needs to be done; new projects to be worked on in the way of books, podcasts, radio and TV interview, Webinars and customizing programs for clients.  The more engagements I complete, the more in-demand as a speaker I am.  Now don’t misunderstand me.  This is not a complaint.  I really do love and enjoy what I do.  It feels good to provide services that are in need, and I feel that I do them well.  The important thing is what I choose to do when I’m not in front of an audience or working on new programs.  After a lifetime of worry, frustration and disappointment in little shortcomings, I am now beginning to understand how valuable that time in between is.  I call it: “MY TIME.”  And with MY TIME, I simply do what makes me happy.  I have found that the amount of time I have for MY TIME isn’t as important as the attention I give it.  In other words, it’s quality time that matters, not quantity.  This time can be a day or a few weeks at home in between bookings, or it can be a simple luxury of staying overnight at a hotel before I give a morning speech.  Whatever the amount of time I have, it’s what I choose to do with MY TIME that brings value to it.  I try to make conscious choices to feed my soul and complement parts of myself that need fostering and make me happy.

For example, whether I’m home or on the road, I always find time to exercise. Always!  It simply makes me feel great; physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.   Sometimes when I’m away from home, I may choose to go for a walk through a historical neighborhood.   I discovered years ago that walking is a form of meditation that always puts my mind at ease.  Quite often, as I’m walking, solutions to problems hit me with such clarity that I have to laugh. (You might want to try that the next time you’re all stressed out over a problem at work.) Perhaps I may choose to stay in my hotel room and take a nap or read a book.  Both are something I have become accustomed to.  Something else I love to do when I’m traveling is to meet with friends for dinner and indulge in great conversation, nonstop laughter and, of course, a great bottle of wine or two or three. Don’t give me that look! There’s always a designated driver.

These are just some of the things that complete me as a person.  To you, they may seem simple or unproductive, or even boring.  But to me, they are essential to my wellbeing.  MY TIME is when I let go of the hectic world and find my balance.  Within this time, I have a profound understanding that I don’t have to push life so much in order to experience it harmoniously, to be guided more by intuition than ambition.  Some of my greatest insights have come to me when I have decided to simply break away and pay attention to who I am.

Your job is not who you are, it’s what you do.  What you do for a living may be a sacred part of who you are, but on its own merits, it doesn’t complete you.  There’s so much more to you than what you do to earn a paycheck.  Deep inside, you know this is true.

By all means, dedicate a great amount of time towards achieving your professional goals.  But for your sake, learn how to let go and honor those other sacred parts of yourself. If you do, don’t be surprised if you find that you are more passionate, enthusiastic and motivated at work. Allow yourself the freedom to use your time to love, laugh and learn.  Find your balance!  Find your joy!  Live your life with passion!  Don’t be afraid to shift your life in the direction of the things that you value and that nourish your soul.  Shift your focus when you are feeling fragmented and upset to bring yourself back to your higher sense of being, and shift your priorities to allow yourself to focus on what matters.

Because when shift happens, your life changes.  And trust me, my friend.  It’s for the better.

 

Please feel free to share your thoughts and insights. I welcome all comments.

Steve Rizzo is the Attitude Adjuster.  You can’t attend one of his keynote speeches, seminars, or read his books and leave with the same attitude.  He’s a personal development expert, motivational business speaker, corporate-comedian and best-selling author. It’s no surprise that Steve is also a Hall Of Fame Speaker Inductee. An honor bestowed upon on fewer than 200 speakers worldwide since 1977.