Have you noticed the interference?
The lure of amusements. The pull of social obligations.
In today’s world, we’re bombarded with distraction. They become blinkers, obscuring your awareness of the inevitable.
That time is passing.
There’s nothing we can do to escape this.
Technically, you could Cryogenically freeze yourself (yes, people are actually doing this). But that’s not living, it’s not experiencing. It’s deferring.
One option is to deny this passing of time to bury our heads in the sands of distraction, turn up the radio, turn on cruise control, and switch off.
Another is to choose the road less travelled, where you optimize time.
Exiting the congested highway will come with challenges, make no mistake. Yes, this alternate route leads to the same destination, but the self-control and high agency road is more picturesque.
This detour starts with observing how you’re allocating your time and what you choose to invest it in. We can’t waste time, or just let life happen to us.
I’m not advocating you to spend every minute working. Or focus only on ‘being productive’. You need to live. However, it would be prudent to know what you’re spending that life on. To be aware.
Because right now, the actions and behaviours you’re exhibiting, and how you’re spending your time, aren’t bringing your ideal future self into the present.
Your desired life is an elusive goal.
To realize your ideal self and desired life, be intentional in your time on this mortal coil.
I optimize mine with a routine.
One that addresses my mental resilience, emotional wellbeing and physical health.
To many, the word routine conjures up images of self-confinement or restriction. For me, it means freedom.
From committing to my routine, I’ve changed my life. I’ve gained a sense of autonomy and agency that has brought about a peace of mind I thought only reserved for Buddhist monks.
My routine erases my mental to-do list and helps me see time objectively.
In my calendar, I have daily psychological and physical exercises which destroy any anxiety.
I’ve built confidence and trust in myself from knowing I’ll execute on the task whatever the situation, regardless of the outcome.
Although it would be prudent to mention the routine is one part of the equation, cultivating a routine from knowing what essentials to include is one thing. Being able to act on tasks when the time comes is another skill altogether.
To maintain the journey when obstacles tried to take you off course. Life events, parenting challenges, relationship turmoil, work challenges, loss and grief, interactions with others. This is where the rubber hits the road.
It’s not the events themselves but the thoughts, feelings and emotions we generate around them, which encourage us to divert and rejoin the highway.
The road that’s familiar.
Whilst I am experiencing them, I do not yield; they do not take me off course.
This comes with skill, with building the mental resilience and the emotional intelligence to take the wheel, drop the clutch and drive forward.