Today we have come to believe that success means more. More money, more friends, more lovers, more stuff, more credit, more goals, more tasks. If we are not getting more of something, it means we must be doing something wrong, right?
We have come up with a hundred methods to manage our goals, because we must have many goals. Only losers have few or no goals, right?
Our inbox is about to explode, and if yours isn’t, then you start to worry that you might get fired soon.
So we work more, and we live less.
Having more has become a race to the top, not noticing we are actually running to a cliff.
More is not Better
We have become so obsessed to do more, to be more or to have more that we have confused the idea of “more” with “better”. And “more” definitely does not necessarily equals “better“.
“Friends” are not your 1,025 Facebook contacts, “Friend” means as much as 1 person with whom we have really connected. Not by a social network, but by sharing a true emotional link.
Of what good does that big paycheck serves, if you don’t have time in the next 17 months to enjoy it?
Is not simply about finding balance, is about being better, not more. Work better, no more. Be a better person, not the guy/girl who has more…
What takes to cure this illness of more is a change of mentality.
Drop some Balls
We have become a juggler who keeps adding more balls to his performance.
So from now on, make the commitment that for every new task you accept to do, you will have to drop some other task out of your list. Don’t look for a way to do it despite having more pending, just drop it or reschedule so someone else does it.
What will happen is that you will discover that dropping something you already have accepted to do is much more embarrassing that to say no to something new. This way, every time someone asks you to do or to help with something you will immediately analyze if you prefer to say no to this person or to say no to something you already have in your plate.
Accept that we have a limiting amount of time and attention forces us to reevaluate our priorities. It’s up to you if you want on your tombstone “In the loving memory of a great father” or “In the loving memory of an inbox king”
Amen, brother. I downsized my life considerably a year ago and have never been happier. 🙂 Love it.
This is a wonderful topic. It is one of the basics I started to implement in my life. I used to tore myself apart in doing this and that only to make others see that I am not lazy. When I started to change my life one of the first things was not to care what others think of my daily activities, what I am doing and how I am doing it. That way I got more relaxed and made room for things I really wanted to do. We have to give ourselves the allowence to stop doing things we do only because we are used to or because we are taught to. We need to differ and get back to our basics. Our best will only be fullfilling and successful when what we do comes from our hearts!
Completely agree on everything, this post should be read in every school!
Great article! We are definitely on the same wavelength with this lately. Wonderful quote at the end. We often become more shortsighted the busier we get. Thanks for this.
Great post Julio! Just what I needed to see this morning. As a working mum with two young children I often fall into the trap of trying to be the supermum, superwoman, outstanding at work, aiming for a spotless house (haha what a contradiction with young children 🙂 ), healthy meals on the table, And the list goes on. It is so hard to let go and stay focused on what is really important. Or to allow myself to be who I really want to be or spend time doing things I really enjoy. Just like my blog which I started two weeks ago and never got to the second post due to my exhausting schedule. Thank you for the great pointer. I need to spare time to read your posts, they are truely inspirational!
Very true. Having too much on our plate is not going satisfy us.
I believe it is okay to desire for different and many things but not more than 2-3 at a time. I often take up just 1 activity/ learning at a time since I have a full time job. This helps me balance things more easily and I am able to focus and enjoy on the moment rather than struggle to have it all at a time.
Very nice post.
Excellent post and advice on not finding work/life balance, but instead finding balance. Thanks for the follow on Attention Anonymous. I agree that personal development is best done with like-minded folks. All the best!
Great post! I work in a healthcare/corporate environment, and it almost seems like a right of passage for people to complain about how much is “on their plate.” Being “crazy-busy” is the new norm to the point that I feel like the odd one out for not chiming in on the workload complaint-bragging. They are both in control of their situation and victims to it. I learned about the urgency/important matrix a few years ago (popularized by Stephen Covey in the 7 Habits book) and never looked back. It changed my life. Quality over quantity.
I’m glad you liked! I haven’t read about the urgency/important matrix. I’m gonna check it out.
Great thoughts on busyness, and insightful ways to respond to our tendency to over-commit.
Thanks for dropping by my site! I have enjoyed visiting yours and taking in some of your wisdom. 🙂
Blessings to you,
Crystal
Reblogged this on whatcherylsaid… and commented:
Reblogged from “theGoodVader” check out his blog. Very thought provoking!
Another wonderful post. So wonderful I reblogged it on my blog. Keep it up!
Thank you for the reblog!
you bet!