Time is precious. And you deserve some of it!
We live in a world where various aspects of our lives constantly demand our time, from every direction. Our work demands our time between 9 and 5. Our family demands our time during weekends & evenings. Our dreams, hobbies & visions demand our time as we pursue bigger things. The society demands our time, if we have a heart to change the world. They are all good. They are all important and we definitely need to ‘channel’ and ‘share’ our time-bag with all of these. No doubts.
But, the foundation of your success lies in the answer to this question: “How much time are you spending with yourself?”
Alone. All by yourself. With just you and your ‘Innerman’. I call this the QUIET-TIME!
When you are alone, in peace and quiet, it gives you an opportunity to listen to your ‘Innerman’ and allow the ‘Innerman’ to steer your thoughts and hence your actions. So, each of us need to spend at least a few minutes everyday in solitude – in a quite, calm place, gathering our thoughts and streamlining our lives, before jumping into action and before starting to fulfill all that the world demands of us.
Your ‘Quiet-time’ everyday, helps you to THINK about the things that you are DOING all the time. When we DO without THINKING, we become a machine. We start doing the routine work again & again like a machine that never thinks, as depicted beautifully and humorously by the great Charlie Chaplin in his movie “Modern Times“. Then life could become meaningless – all the work for money, all the money for things and all the things for what?!
So everyday, plan to spend at least 5 mins in a quiet place with yourself ‘thinking’ about the day (Actually 5 mins is less than 1% of the 1440 minutes that are in a day!)
In your ‘Quite-Time’, apart from praying (which is actually having a conversation with the Almighty, your Maker, your Father, your God, your Big Boss!) you could ask these simple questions to yourself:
1. What am I going to accomplish today? (to do list)
2. How do I solve today’s problems? (strategy for work & personal problems)
3. On what areas can I focus today? Which is important and which is not?
4. Apart from me & my work, does any one else need my time/help today? My family? Some non-profit? Some colleague? A Friend? (something for others)
5. Are all my daily actions in line with what I want to do with my life in the long-term? (alignment with your bigger purpose in life)
And you can add more questions, based on your individual preferences. I usually prefer to have my diary beside me during my ‘Quite Time’ to take notes of something that my ‘Innerman’ might remind me of or instruct me about. But you could follow your own style!
But one thing is for sure, when you have your ‘Quiet Time’ everyday, you will start becoming a happy, focused and a confident individual who knows where he/she is going. And you will get there fast! All the best!
