Allow Yourself to Find the Most Valuable Use of Your Time

"Perhaps the very best question that you can memorize and repeat, over and over, is, 'what is the most valuable use of my time right now?'"

~ Brian Tracy

Putting your focus on what is the most valuable use of your time allows you to make choices about how you will live your life.  It allows you to live with intention and purpose, congruent with what is most important to you.  Too often we allow ourselves to get distracted by demands on our time that are not meaningful, that don't take us in the direction we want to go.  Those demands may seem urgent, but they are not important; in fact, they distract us from what is most important.  When you focus on what is the most valuable use of your time, you will be paying attention to what matters most.

This week:  Decide to put your focus on what is the most valuable use of your time.  Ask yourself this question repeatedly several times a day.  Find the answer, and act accordingly.  Notice how this feels.  Notice what things get pushed into the background.  Paying attention to what is most important may be difficult, especially with the demands others make on your time.  Find ways to direct your focus away from those less important demands.  If necessary, tell others, "I have something else I have to do first."  Then do what is most important.  At the end of the week, notice how you feel about how you have used your time. 

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people overcome obstacles to their success and happiness, including difficulties with time management and organization.  She believes strongly in helping people live meaningful, authentic lives, and helps them find the resources to do that.  For more information about her business, the Inner Resource Center, LLC, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ .

You Are In Charge of Time

"Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator."

 ~Robert Orben

It doesn't matter if you are "ready or not" time moves forward.  It is up to each of us to decide how we want to spend that time.  We are in charge of it.  We get to decide what is important or not important, what we need to attend to and how we spend our time.  Too many people think they are the "victim" of time that is outside of their control.  For them, time is like a runaway airplane, taking them places they don't want to go--or crashing into the barren desert.  In reality, though, we each control our own time.  Seize control and go where YOU want to go with your time.

This week:  Begin to notice how you are spending your time.  Notice in particular when you feel that you are not controlling your time.  When you catch yourself feeling out of control, ask yourself:  Is this an important way to be spending my time?  If not, figure out how you gave away the controls.  Reclaim them by saying "no" or refocusing your attention on things that matter.  Notice if it feels better to be doing what matters most.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and trainer at Inner Resource Center, LLC.  She is an expert at helping people figure out what matters most and create lives of greater meaning.  She is the creator of the Discover Your Life's Purpose program--7 steps to a life of meaning and authenticity.  For more information go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ .