Has anyone ever asked you “How are you?” and you’ve responded “Busy!” with a somewhat harried expression and wry smile?
You’re not alone: “Busy” has replaced “Fine” as the standard answer to a standard question. “Busy” has become the new normal in a world overwhelmed with tasks, responsibilities and to-dos. “Busy” has become equated with achievement – to be busy is to be important, productive and successful. And “Too busy” has become the excuse when we can’t meet a friend for a coffee, cook a meal from scratch or get enough healthful sleep.
Too often many of us are stretched to the point of breaking as we try to pack too much into our lives and neglect to recognize and pursue our real passions and priorities. We must pause and consider the different types of value that can be added to our lives and assess how we can move from being simply being busy to being happy and fulfilled.
Different Types of Value
- Growth Value: I am learning or growing as a person, either physically, intellectually, creatively or spiritually.
- Financial Value: I am earning money for my household or for my/my family’s future.
- Relational Value: I am building or strengthening the relationships that are important to me.
- Practical Value: I am meeting my basic needs and those of my household/family e.g. household chores, sleeping, making/eating meals, paying bills etc.
- Community Value: I am doing something to help or serve others outside of my close circle e.g. volunteering to serve a cause I am passionate about; for the “greater good”.
Intentionally refocusing our time to spend it on the tasks that add meaning to our lives is not easy. Modern American society is filled with time-wasters and distractions. We are continually bombarded with information and advertising. We are expected to stay in constant connection with each other, and our jobs extend far beyond a traditional 40 hour work week.
In order to find the time to add value we must subtract. We must subtract the activities and pursuits that make us anxious or drive us to distraction. We must subtract the tasks that force us to take valuable time away from our close family and friends. We must subtract the disruptions that prevent us from learning and growing, prevent us from paying attention to our health and prevent us from investing time in our communities.
Every day we are presented with countless choices of how to spend our time, our energy, our effort and our money. The wisest of us recognize we always have the power to choose. And they choose to pursue their life’s greatest mission by repeatedly saying “no” to things that distract from it. ~ Joshua Becker
(Check back later this week for my tried-and-tested ways to subtract.)
My Chosen Few 