3 Ways to Opt Out of the Frenzy
Make the Frenzy Stop.
If you have been following me on social media, you will notice lots of images of handsome little men, three of them in fact, all under the age of two, who have invaded my world in a beautiful way and demanded a full on focus. I have enjoyed all the play, all the joy, all the sublime exhaustion that comes from chasing after or bouncing their little selves.
What this requires is finding a way to totally immerse myself in these moments and still carry out the responsibilities of ministry and work and book edits. It is so interesting to me that when people reach out by email to me or through social media, they preface their communication saying, ‘I know you must be incredibly busy,’ and I always shock them by saying, ‘No, I’m not busy, I don’t have to do anything for anyone, so I don’t do anything I don’t want to do…I’ve got time for what I sense is a priority for me to respond to in the moment.”
By changing the way we think about busyness — from a marker of status to a mark of servitude — it may become easier to say no to the parade of endless obligations that dance in front of our eyes every day. Begin to make space to think more about the big picture.
What were you created for?
What gifts have you been uniquely graced with?
What would your life look like next year if you took time to explore your gifts and your purpose?
Here are 3 ways to think that will help you opt out of the frenzy and make time for thinking about the big more strategic things in your life.
First, it’s important to remember that strategic thinking doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of time; it’s not about taking endless sabbaticals or going on leadership retreats. You don’t need time to have a good idea, you need space…. It takes zero time to have an innovative idea or to make a decision, but if you do need headspace. The best way to achieve this is to colour code your day and your week with even a few minutes each day to just sit and think and clear up head and heart space to receive ideas that are about dreaming and visioning. As you sit and listen, bring to the surface dreams or issues that you have kept hidden because of busyness.
Don’t be scared to ask this question at regular intervals: “If anything was possible, what would it be?”
Be the decision maker in your life about what and who you will invest in, or else others will make those decisions for you. Even with limited time and the same amount of responsibilities, it’s far easier to think strategically if you can clear the decks by doing simple things such as writing down all of your outstanding tasks in one place, so you can properly triage them and aren’t constantly interrupted by the feeling that you forgot something.
I have to re-surrender my minutes and hours daily and even let go of some of the expectations of success regarding my work and ministry. It is hard to let this go because the pull is to achieve and accomplish. But there is enough time for all that needs to be done and the people that align with your life purpose to invest in.
Cathie