Project management is the ultimate in time management. Lately, I have given up time management and switched to attention and focus management as an effective way to complete tasks (projects) that are both large and small.
Time management can feel like herding cats. It can get away from you. Time is out of our control while giving our attention to a task is an active choice you can make to be in alignment with your intention. In an effort to create an ability to empower yourself, recognizing what you have control of is a beginning point. How and what you choose to focus on is a skill anybody can learn including you.
Let’s explore further. Have you ever had a song or phrase stuck in your head? How about this one. Have you ever forgot something that was on the tip of your tongue? I certainly have. The funny thing is the harder I try the more I am stuck at not remembering. Or the song is more stuck in my head. How about you?
Let’s switch gears. Have you ever noticed if you move on, whamo, the song disappears or the forgotten name is remembered? I am not sure how this happens. I do know each of us has the ability to create a lot of struggle which can in-turn create suffering. To illustrate this I am going to share something I see happen in working with people who want to get rid of uncomfortable feelings like anxiety, or a perception of being bad, or feeling like a failure.
What’s interesting is in the effort to get rid of the stuff we don’t want we have to keep checking to see if it is still there. That’s right. How do you know it’s gone unless you go look for it? What do you think gets more attention? The negative get twice as much focus. What do you think is reinforced? The stuff we don’t want.
I have noticed myself in this situation as if I was in a squirrel cage going round and round and going nowhere. The simple solution will blow your socks off. It is three easy steps:
First I recommend you get clear about what really matters to you in your life. It can be family, career, community, nature or friends.
Next ask yourself. “How can I be the best I can in the areas of my life I care about? Again, how will you be your ideal self in relationship with family, friends, community or career? When I say ideal it is a way of being aware.
Last, turn your attention and focus to choosing the behaviors that are in alignment with your ideal. This is not about perfection. It is about opening up to yourself and your heart.
What project do you want to work on? Once, you complete your project what next? The message between the lines is we can bring the best of who we are to more than projects. One last word, compassion is the vehicle that lets us keep our efforts renewed as we travel towards our destiny.
On a more personal level, the project I am working on is writing a book proposal to submit to a publishing company about a book I have written. The project has taken me months. I wrestle with where to turn my focus. Consequently, blogging has taken a back seat for now. I love talking with all of you out there and hope you continue to stay on-board as I go for the prize.
Related Posts:
- A lighter Back Pack: Carry Your Values
- How are Values and Goals related
- Toonsday: Fearless Like Spiderman
Sounds like your really doing well Brenda. Congrats on your book!
Roz… I love it when you stop in to chat. Your kind wordss are appreciated. I will be posting as things progress.
I love to stop in too..life is hectic, though I am down to the ground..
Hope you are keeping warm.
Also, thanks for the kind words Brenda.
Roz… it has been a chilly one. I stay warm by cooking comfy food and drinking hot chocolate.
I would love to hear from you about your interests on any topics you might be curious about. We can chat about … what you are curious about. About life being hectic and how to get down to the ground. What is you secret?