Yep, that pretty much describes me.
A little over a week ago, Lara and I celebrated a big success – we published our book: Peace with Food: Eat What You Want. Never Diet Again. Live a Happy Life. A book that we had been working on for over three years. That was a HuGE win for us.
But the thrill of victory, for me, was short lived because almost immediately after publishing our book I was jolted with this harsh reality: although we had found the key to Peace with Food, I had No PeAcE with My TiMe and my schedule! And I’m a Peace Coach!!
It’s not for a lack of trying. I have tried numerous time-management methods, to no avail.
And not for a lack of accomplishment. I am a consummate tracker of my progress. I journal and I track. Have been doing so for years. And I’ve accumulated a lot of checkmarks.
Give me a graph-paper notebook and it’s like giving a baby candy. For some reason, checking those little boxes is SO very motivating for me to such a degree that I file away those checkoff lists so I can see all the things I have accomplished.
Motivating, yes, but satisfying in the deepest part of the soul, no. In regards to my time and my schedule there is a nagging sense that I am far from my target. That I am MiSsiNg SoMeThiNg. As Bill Hybels would say, a holy discontent.
I want to go from successfully checking off my checkmarks to SiGniFiCaNcE and SouL SaTisFacTion.
So, what now?
The awesome thing, is that in our search for peace with food, Lara and I discovered that the principles we used are transferable to the rest of life!
So, back to the drawing board I go. I’m embarking on a new journey. This time, my focus is to find peace with my time and my schedule and here’s how I intend to do that by using the peace principles Lara and I discovered in finding Peace with Food:
1.) Know myself – I have been doing a lot of ReFleCtiNg and soul searching. The first half of this post describes my discoveries to date. I will continue to reflect and record throughout this journey
2.) Educate myself – I will be spending a lot of time in the next months and possibly even the next few years on this subject. Here is some of what I plan to do:
- Read John C. Maxwell’s new book, Intentional Living the moment it comes out this fall! I also plan on doing his 7- Day Experiment and 30-Day Challenge that coincides with the book.
- Speak to my MenToRs about how they have found peace with their time and schedule.
- Read other books on this subject.
- Of course, I can’t leave out the GoD FacToR. This will actually be my first go-to. I’ll use what I call the PR36 Principle: (Proverbs 3:6)
3.) Experiment – I will continually be experimenting with the input and insight I get from mentors and the books I read to see what works best for me. I’ll also be trying some different systems such as Stephen Covey’s.
That being said, the most important thing is this: I don’t just want a new system, a new plan, or the latest and greatest technique that promises me that I will be able to get more done in less time.
No, I want something on the InSiDe Of Me To ChAnGe, specifically the way I look at my time, knowing that this life is very short and each moment that passes is one that will never come my way again.
Stay tuned. . . I’m a WoRk In ProGrEsS and I will continue to update you on my journey. 🙂
Do you have peace with your time and schedule? If so, please share!