Showing posts with label Time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Time. Show all posts

Monday, March 23, 2015

Happiness is in Your Hands

The meaning of life can be summed up in one simple yet profound word—happiness. Yet, it may surprise you to know that a rather small number of people consider themselves to be truly happy.

Scientific polls place the average percentage of happy people to be less than 20%. When asked about happiness most people will tell you they're "generally happy" while others will freely admit they seldom experience much happiness at all. Less than 20% confidently define their lives as fulfilling or flourishing. That's less than one in five! These basic stats raise the question: How do I become one of the 20-per centers?

Happiness is relative. In other words, it is personally defined. Yet, there are certain fundamentals that support a foundational premise that can help you find (and maintain) a state of happiness in your life. I've gathered a few of these simple principles you may wish to consider as you search for your own true version of happiness. These principles, along with many others, have worked well for me. And I suspect they will work for you as well.

Gratitude - Known as one of the most profound and powerful happiness boosters, gratitude will immerse your entire being with the goodness of life. Gratitude reveals the precious nature of life and the sincerities of mankind in a way that can often be awe-inspiring. Gratitude can make you happier. It can make you see life differently, and it can change your entire state of being.

Gratitude exercise - Every day think of three things you are grateful for. Do it for two weeks without skipping a day. At the end of two weeks determine whether or not you feel happier. My bet is that you surely will.

Passion - Each and every one of us is good at something. Operating in the lane of passion supports happiness and gives us a sense of accomplishment and contribution.

Passion exercise - Think about the best version of yourself and move toward that. Learn something, connect with someone, and act on something that supports your passion.

Time - Spending time with the right people speaks to our sense of belonging and our basic social nature. The happiest people are generally social and have strong relationships.

Time exercise - Interact with people. Discover the true value of human interaction with other like-minded people. If you tend to be more of a social introvert, try stepping outside your lane of familiarity and see the kinds of things being social can provide. Happiness is more contagious than unhappiness, so a bit of exposure may actually open up a whole new world for you.

Give - There's just no doubt about it, giving makes us happier than receiving. Giving creates a perpetuate cycle of happiness that's difficult to describe. Experience giving and you'll quickly know the power of this concept.

Giving exercise - Volunteer. Do something nice for someone as you discover a need. It can be the most selfless way of being selfish while creating a sense of personal joy that is difficult to top.

Savor - There's nothing wrong with savoring fond memories of the past or anticipating an exciting event. However, to truly tap into the strongest aspect of happiness, we should focus as much as we possibly can on the present moment. Doing so allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the magic of the moment as it unfolds before us. Savoring such moments are an important aspect to the basic tenets of happiness.

Savor exercise - Stop what you're doing right now and savor the things that are going on around you. Draw a deep breath and savor the fresh sense of life that enters your lungs. Listen to the sounds, savor the voices, the sights, the experiences and the power of right now. Smile knowing that these things are the essence of life and a true reason to be happy.

Avoid regrets - We all know the story of the person who lies on their deathbed looking back upon life with regrets. "I wish I had the courage to live life differently," "I wish I hadn't worked so hard," "I wish I had allowed myself to be happier," "I wish I had..." The last thing any of us want is for this scenario to play out in our own lives. But it will unless you realize that you have the power to be happy right now. You control your own state of happiness and it isn't as difficult as it may first appear.

So...smile, savor the goodness of life, and discover reasons to be happy. The power to do so is in your hands. 

Until next time...

-G-


"Happiness is an inside job."
~ William Arthur Ward

We're proud to announce Gary's next book, set to be released this summer. FEAR is a Thief is the first in a self-empowerment series that is written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Get your copy of Westfal's first novel Dream Operative.

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com.

For a comprehensive perspective on the diversity of Gary Westfal, please visit his website (www.gwestfal.com).
 
If you'd like to receive a notification anytime Gary publishes a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit his Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator.

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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

You Are the Message

The amount of time it takes you to read this first sentence is all the time you have to make a first impression on someone new. Seven seconds. That's it. Time's up.

We formulate judgments and opinions of each other so fast that we rarely have time to think about the significance of our processing. Think about the last time you met someone new. How did you feel even before the other person uttered their first word? Was your initial intuition confirmed when they spoke to you or did you misjudge? Did they make eye contact with you as they approached? What did you think of their demeanor, their posture, their gestures, and the tone and delivery of their words? What judgments did you make based on their appearance? Did they "exude" a commanding presence or an unenviable timidity?

Whatever you may have been feeling as you spent those precious first seven seconds coming to your initial conclusion, something else was taking place at the very same timeYou were also being analyzed.
 


Human interaction is an amazing concept of study. While most of us tend to see ourselves cast in a favorable light that others must surely see, we rarely consider the alternative perspective others really have of us. Why is that? One reason is simply based on the fact that we're so busy analyzing others that we fail to consider that we too are being analyzed. The other, more often overlooked reason is that every one of us have "hidden windows" or areas that we simply cannot see or are not yet aware of.

Based on the psychological concept of the Johari Window, the theory uses the Johari House, with four windows leading to corresponding rooms. Each room metaphorically represents a part of who we are with respect to our personality, mannerisms, and the interpersonal energy we convey to others as well as the level of awareness and insight we, and others, have upon each area.


Room 1 is that part of ourselves we see and others see.
Room 2 contains the elements that others see but we are not (yet) aware of.
Room 3 is the most mysterious room in that the subconscious part of us is seen by neither ourselves nor others.
Room 4 is our private space, which we know but keep hidden from others.

Knowing that you have areas you cannot see, for one reason or another, is significant in that you are unable to see yourself in the totality of how you are perceived by others. While you may consider yourself to be considerate and open-minded, others may see you as an arrogant know-it-all. This typically occurs when others detect a mismatch in your delivery and your words, for example. It therefore goes to show that we must continually take steps to discover the truth of who we are if we intend to project an accurate reflection of who (and how) we wish to be considered.

One of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves is to seek, find, and apply truth in our life. Aligning ourselves with truth permits a better person to emerge from within. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through introspectionthat is, being honest with ourselves about what we know and don't know. Pay careful attention to how others react when you're around. Confide in someone you can trust to give you an honest assessment of what they see that you cannot. Be careful not to overreact to the honesty of your trusted confidant and be prepared to accept the changes you must make. These changes will most likely lead to improvements you need to hear and will make it easier to cast a better impression upon yourself.

The impression you make upon others is an integral part of human interaction. The process of conveying an accurate impression is not merely limited to the words we select. While dialogue, tone and delivery are important, they are by no means the only aspects of communication that matter. We communicate with our entire being whether we care to admit it or not. We send signals or convey messages with every conceivable aspect of ourselves. Eye contact, gestures and mannerisms, posture, personal appearance—they are all considered in the amazingly fast seven-second analogy of an initial encounter.
Consider these aspects of human interaction as you look for ways to improve your chances of an accurate analysis (and a positive impression) by others when you meet for the first time:
  • Optimism
  • Eye Contact
  • Comfort Level
  • Active Listening
  • Gestures
  • Physical Space and Contact
These aspects are but a few of the elements that make a clear difference in how you are received, or subtlety rejected, in the First Seven Seconds. Think about the differences in the message you have been conveying against the message you wish to convey from this point forward. The time you spend making subtle changes may be worth the introspection.

Until next time!

-G-


                                                                                                                                          


Just released: KEY HORIZON the second novel in the G. Weston spy series.
Get your copy of my first novel Dream Operative.

Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) or Amazon.com and order your copy of these exciting novels today!

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

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Saturday, July 20, 2013

Time Value of Money


If you’re younger than thirty years old, you possess the single most desirable component of the investing universe–time. Time is the one factor that is the most powerful when it comes to your money growth.  If you haven’t yet hit the big 3-0, you have a lot more going for you than you may realize. A little sacrifice now can produce huge rewards for you over the next several years if you follow a few basic rules. So, in essence, you have an investing advantage that a lot of “older” people don’t–time.
 
To make the most of the advantage of time and money during this phase of your life, you should consider these 5 basic truths. Apply them and watch the essence of your financial outlook take shape before your very eyes.
 
1.      Start Now.
There’s no time like the present to radically affect the future, especially when we’re talking about your financial future. When I was twenty-four years old I was fortunate enough to have a friend, a mentor, who stressed the importance of starting early when it came to investing for my financial future. After I had exhausted just about every excuse I could muster on reasons not to invest, he introduced me to the magic of compound interest. It was all I could do to contain my excitement.

I began by reconstructing my finances and my way of thinking. Doing so put my financial future on a very different path than it was on. I started by putting aside $25 per payday. At first, it was one of the toughest things to do. Not so much because I needed the money, but more because I was used to consuming the entirety of my paycheck on things my family and I “needed.” Since then, I’ve learned quite a bit about recognizing a true need from a fleeting desire. What a difference it has made.

I gradually increased the contributions to my savings. My first goal was to be able to save 10% of my income. I managed to hit that goal rather quickly, not because of pay raises (although with every raise since then I have put aside a portion for savings) but because the desire for financial freedom was stronger than the desire for immediate gratification.

As the amount of my savings grew I became even more motivated. I increased to 15% and then to 20% and to a figure that you would likely find difficult to believe today, all while increasing my standard of living.

If you simply cannot see a way to set something aside, keep reading. Perhaps some of the remaining concepts will help you to discover areas that’ll free up money within your personal budget so you too can start now. Remember, nothing begets nothing; while something compounded increases itself. In other words, if you do (or save) nothing, nothing is exactly what you’ll have. Absolutely no one cares about your money like you do. Take control now!
 
2.  Live within your means.
One of the toughest financial concepts to control is the ability to live within our means. Oftentimes, it takes more of a psychologically disciplined approach because of the inevitable competing demands for our money, not to mention our appetite for a quality lifestyle.

As we begin to make money, most of us tend to begin building a lifestyle just beyond what we can afford, effectively living outside our means, because after all, we expect to get raises and grow into a lifestyle. Why not push it a bit to “get ahead?” We begin to rationalize our desires by re-labeling them as needs. What occurred to me over the years as I was saving a significant portion of my income was the fact that I never felt as though I had sacrificed my standard of living. My family and I simply became accustomed to living well within our means while validating the relevancy of desires versus needs. Buying a car, getting married, and purchasing a house are just a few of those needs. Here’s a tip: no one really cares what kind of car you drive. Sure, the BMW hard-top convertible is nice, but is it worth sacrificing your financial future for? Keep in mind that a car is among the biggest obstacles between you and the success of a secure financial. Apply the car example to just about any aspect of the concept of living within your means and you’ll quickly realize the essence of the magic behind this truth. By the way, some people never realize this foundational truth. So master it and watch how you soar past your peers as they wonder just how you’re doing it.
 
3.     Pay down debt.
Every dollar that’s tied up in paying down debt is one less we can use to save for the future. Create a plan to reduce debt by devising a plan and sticking to it, which will, in turn, allow you to allocate more money toward your savings. This concept could not be truer than for credit card liabilities. Find a way to reduce or eliminate your credit card purchases. Few will disagree on the amount of stress credit cards can bring into our lives. Take control as soon as humanly possible. Transfer balances from high-interest cards to those with lower rates. Ideally, find a card with a 0% introductory APR, and pay the balance off in full before the zero-percent interest clock stops. And seriously consider how your next credit card purchase will affect your savings plan the next time you feel compelled to use it.
 
4.     Fund retirement accounts.
Building a solid foundation for retirement right now is critically important. With compound interest rates accumulating over time, until retirement, the principle amount you have to save today to meet your goals pales in comparison to amounts you’ll need if you wait. By starting now, versus the less desirable alternative of waiting, you effectively “automatically” increase your gradual standard of living simply because of the power of time. Should you decide that waiting is your only alternative, it is still a better choice than not investing at all. Realize however, that the time value of money is extremely difficult to recoup and is a rather expensive missed opportunity. The amount of money one must invest in order to compensate for a “late start” increases exponentially over time. Why not act today while you have time on your side along with the advantage of tax-deferred (and in some cases, even tax-free) growth opportunities that comes with retirement accounts?

Put aside as much as possible into your retirement plan at work and at least enough to receive the maximum match your employer offers. Not doing so effectively results in a net loss to your bottom line because you miss out on “reward” money your employer is offering for your commitment to save money for yourself. If you can squeeze out even more money from your budget, contribute to a Roth IRA as long as you qualify for doing so.

Make a promise to yourself and enlist the commitment of your partner to ensure the money you’re saving for retirement won’t be used until then. Sure, you can take money out of a 401(k) or IRA before you retire if you absolutely must, but there’s generally a penalty–and taxes, too–for doing so.
 
5.     Change your financial mindset.
For some of you, retirement may seem like such a distant concept. And, for those fortunate to say that, good for you! Allow it to be a green flag that gives you permission to begin your journey toward a secure financial future. The sooner you get started, the better off you’ll be…the further ahead of your peers you’ll be, the sooner you can claim financial independence, quit your job, spend time with family, play golf, drive what you want to drive, live where you want to live…how you want to live. By adopting sensible money habits, conquering your debts, and saving for retirement early in life, you’ll reap the reward of a secure retirement.


Until next time!



- G -


"Time has a way of reminding us of its perishable nature in the retrospect of our reflections."

Gary Westfal -

 
If you enjoyed this article, you can help by recommending it on Google by pressing the "g+1" button below...
----------------------------------
Get your copy of my first novel Dream Operative. Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) and order your copy today!
 
Receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom of the left column. You'll be subscribed and will receive notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel Dream Operative. And help me by recommending this blog to others and "liking" my FB page.

Please visit my All American Warriors! bog at: http://allamericanwarriors.blogspot.com/
Please visit my website: www.gwestfal.com

 

Monday, December 24, 2012

The Shape of Our Future

Who will shape our future?  Who will dream a wild thought that will transform all of our lives?  Who will lead our next revolutions?  To better answer these questions, we must explore our innermost selves – that place where each and every one of us has an ability to imagine, create, and contribute.  That place is where dreams are born and reality emerges in the form of inspiration!

True inspiration ignites passions that are unstoppable.  Every one of us possesses the capacity to transform lives or processes in a manner that can be considered profound ─ whether on a grand scale or to a single process or life of an individual ─ and as a result, alter the very purpose of our own life in doing so. 

puzzle, peices, random, inspiring
            So, roll up your sleeves and take an honest assessment of the things you can do to make an impact.  What are your gifts?  What do you have in terms of natural ability that you can “lend” to the process?  Your action will put forces into play that’ll ultimately inspire others, even if it’s just one person.  Your action will have an impact!           

            The universal law of nature rewards the spirit of giving.  So give judiciously - not just when it’s convenient, but especially when it’s most needed.  Those on the receiving end of our generosity are affected in ways more broadly than any of us can imagine.  I’ve seen it, experienced it, and lived it from both sides.  The rewards are rich and life-changing.

            So how do we make an impact?  It’s often as simple as finding a need and filling it.  Are you artistic?  Then seek to share your talent and open the eyes of others through the medium of paint or music.  Do you write?  Then write passionately with inspiring words of encouragement to those who need it.  Do you have time to spare?  Volunteer.  Are you successful?  Then share your story with others on how they too can follow the principles of success.  Mentor a student.  All of these and so many more examples can be the catalyst that serves as the critical pivot point and makes the difference in someone’s life that leads to profound changes.  The changes can save a life, a community, or even the world – it’s not unrealistic to envision if you open the aperture of your mind and admit to the plausibility.  In the absence of immediate ideas, simply offer a compliment or a gesture of encouragement to someone.  Make it anonymous if you can – a note or a small gift can make a profound difference and lead to positive change for someone in need. 

            What an honor it is to be part of the process that ignites the dream of another.  You don’t have to be a psychologist or counselor.  You don’t even have to have the right words.  You just have to be sincere.  Your sincerity will convey - even without words.

            So, open your eyes and watch for the opportunities to reveal themselves.  Then step forward and witness the change in two lives – theirs…and yours!


Until next time!


- G -

 “The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind.”            - William James –
 
 

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom of the left column. You'll be subscribed and will receive notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel Dream State. And help me by recommending this blog to others and "liking" my FB page.

Please visit my All American Warriors! bog at: http://allamericanwarriors.blogspot.com/
Please visit my website: www.gwestfal.com


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Friday, June 22, 2012

The Spirit of Generosity


The Spirit of Generosity Lives on!

Want to produce a crop?  Grab some seeds, a comfortable chair, an umbrella, and a tall, cool glass of iced tea or lemonade.  Find a really nice plot of fertile land to set everything up.  Now kick back, sip on your drink and watch the crops grow!!  

Yeah I’m confused too.  I seem to have missed a step. 
Let’s review:

1.       Fertile land…check!
2.      Umbrella…check!
3.      Easy chair…check!
4.      Fresh drink…check!

Oh, wow!  The seeds are still in my pocket.  I can sit there all week waiting on something to come up out of the ground and nothing will ever happen if I don’t take action and plant those seeds! 

You’ll have to pardon the analogy, but it does bear a striking similarity to how we can sometimes feel about our own lives.  We expect something when we’ve given very little or nothing at all to the process.  Oftentimes, we may think we’ve given, and given generously, when in fact we haven’t. 

My first rule of generosity is to give joyously. 

Whatever it is you give, give with a pure heart.  All too often, the term “generosity” is associated with money or something of monetary value.  To address this aspect, I simply say, give what you can, when you can, as often as you can.  And give joyously.  If you loathe at writing the check, then you’re not giving joyously.  Find something you can support and believe in.  You’ll know it when you find it.  But don’t fall into the trap of waiting for it to come to you. 

It’s okay to expect a return…

Hold the presses!!  Some may be thinking, “Does this not conflict with what’s written in the previous paragraph?”  Absolutely not!  I get a lot of debate on this one, as you may imagine.  It’s all in the attitude of generosity that strikes the delicate balance between the arrogance and a humble belief that life has a way of recognizing the true value of the gift or service you provide and will repay you with abundance.  If you give with an “attitude” of malice or expectation of a return favor, then the attitude is all wrong and you’re not giving joyously in the first place.  It’s okay, however, to expect the quality of your life to be favored by your joyful giving.  That favor is what we see when we see successful people enjoying more success, charismatic people enjoying more friendships, generous people enjoying more…generosity and abundance! 

There are several things we can give generously that will not only enrich the lives of others, but will enrich our own lives as well.  The next time you think of generosity, before thinking about money, think of one of these elements. 

1.       Time
2.      Integrity
3.      Respect
4.      Passion


Then...

5.      Money

Time – Our most precious commodity, we’re often the most selfish with time, and rightly so.  We want to spend time wisely, but I would suggest most of us aren’t very good at it.  Given an outside perspective of each of our lives, there would no doubt be revelations on how we could rearrange our lives to provide just a bit more time to be generous with it.  True, all of us are allotted the same twenty-four hours.  But there are so many things we could do that would allow us to donate our time with simple adjustments.  If this speaks to you, think about being generous with some of your time.  If money is tight, consider giving your time to a worthy cause.

Integrity – People are drawn to integrity.  It’s something that must be proven over time (our first element), but one in which the value cannot be overstated.  Many a business has succeeded or failed because of the value of integrity.  The very structure of family and friendships are built on the foundation of integrity and everything it imbues.  If you choose to be generous with your time, bring along your highest standards of integrity. 

Respect – Don’t pre-judge!  Everyone deserves the benefit of respect, no matter what their lot in life.  Ever find yourself being more outwardly respectful of someone famous or higher in rank or status than you?  Why does that occur?  Why do we tend to expect people to earn our respect?  I say, smile at everyone, get to know them regardless of rank, status, or bloodline and you will become known as cheerful, charismatic, and personable.  You become the respected one.  The rewards tend to return back to you rather quickly on this one most of the time. 

Passion – My all-time favorite, this one strikes a chord within me that resonates stronger and louder the more I share it!  You can’t fake passion.  It’s way too transparent.  Your passion, or lack of it, precedes you in so many ways.  Discover your passion and share it with everyone!  If it’s truly a passion, you will not only bless those with whom you share it, you will be blessed as well.  People will often be intrigued with your passion.  An amazing thing happens when you share your passion.  You ignite the passions of others.  You shake them…some gently, others violently.  Your passion provides an awareness they'll actually be witnessing for the very first time.  If you haven’t already discovered your passion, I encourage you to.  It’s one of life’s greatest pleasures that is beyond my ability to put into words.  When you find it, share it generously.  Your path to success will become clear and your generosity will be rewarded beyond measure!

Money – I left money for last, even though money, or any of the elements, can be used at any time and under just about any circumstance.  Your generosity with money can go a long way, even if you aren’t able to give a lot.  Remember to give joyously and as generously as possible.  If you can only afford to give a set amount, then do so joyfully.  If you’re able to give more, then do that as well.  If you’re already giving, consider an increase.  When you do so, expect the quality of your joy to increase, knowing your generosity is making a difference toward the greater good.  Your generosity may be the difference-maker in someone’s life. 

The bottom line is to give of yourself and to do so generously!  The universal law of attraction will perpetuate and come back to you.  Give it a try and drop me a line on how you see the gift of generosity working in your life! 

Until next time!



- G -




If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Author

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom of the left column.  You'll be subscribed and will receive notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel Dream State.  And help me by recommending this blog to others and "liking" my FB page.

Please visit my All American Warriors! bog at: http://allamericanwarriors.blogspot.com/ 
Please visit my website: www.gwestfal.com


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Friday, March 30, 2012

Time


Time…

What do you do with your time?  Is it productive?  Do you find yourself wishing for more time?  Try finishing the following sentence.

“If I only had more time, I’d…”



What kind of things come to mind?  Have you been longing to go back to school and get that degree or certification?  Perhaps you wish for more time to study a foreign language, learn a new skill or improve your health and get back into shape.  Or maybe you’d just like to spend more time with your loved ones.  It all equates to a need or desire for more time.

Don’t you find it amazing how some people seem to accomplish so much in their lives using the exact same amount of time we all have?  After all, every one of us is only allotted twenty-four hours in each day.  So how do they do it? 

Time is a precious and perishable commodity.  How we treat time can be equated to many aspects of life itself.  Mistreat it and it’ll slip away.  Make the most of it and it’ll pay huge dividends.  How have you been using your time lately? 


I’ve discovered a straight-forward, four-step process to getting more productivity from the finite allocation of time we’re all allotted each day.  See if you can find something from this simple approach that’ll help you. 

Assess your timeline.

Assess what you have or where you are in relation to what you desire and make a determination of what kind of time it’ll take to reach your goal or desired outcome.  Be honest and realistic.  Once you have a good idea of how much time it’ll take to accomplish your goal or objective, break up your timeline into monthly, weekly, and daily segments.  Defining an overall goal in terms of a total length of time it’ll take is necessary, but oftentimes it can lead to exasperation and an overwhelming feeling that it may be insurmountable.  If I had known that writing my first novel would’ve taken me two-and-a-half years to write, I may have been overwhelmed to a point of futility.  Yet, because I made sure to spend a few hours a week to write it, I was able to accomplish the overall manuscript…over time.

Define your goals.

It’s a universal reality that few of us truly define our goals with the clarity required to ignite a burning desire to pursue them.  However, once we do clearly define them, a passion ignites within us that’s difficult to ignore.  In a manner much like the timeline method, our goal should be defined as an overall objective, accompanied by milestones that offer clear indications of progress.  Without them, we tend to lose incentive and drive and have no clear indication of forward movement.  The chapters in my novel served as milestones for me as I wrote the ensuing storyline.  I was able to clearly see where I had started and could look back upon a series of chapters that provided added value to the drive and momentum that propelled the progress of my book forward to completion.  

Take action.

Get emotionally involved!  The fact that you’ve recognized the need to set aside time for your goal speaks volumes about your insight and ability to see things from a wide perspective.  The Latin phrase, “Carpe Diem,” or “Seize the Day” has been loosely translated to “Seize the Moment.”  Either way you slice it, the translation compels the reader or philosopher to “seize” time as we know it.  Any amount of time we allow to slip by is time never to be regained.  Taking action as soon as humanly possible allows us to make the absolute most of it.  It therefore goes to show that those who do, are the very ones who seem to make more of the time they have.  Capture the moments that collectively add up to the time that’s right in front of you to your advantage. 

Need an extra thirty minutes to make progress toward your goal?  Get up thirty minutes earlier than you currently do.  Watch thirty minutes less television.  Say no to the boys when they get together for a beer one weekend a month.  Put the kids to bed fifteen minutes early twice a week.  Get creative and watch the time add up!

Follow through!

Once you’ve assessed the timeline, defined your goals and objectives, discovered the time available and have taken action, make sure to follow through and stay consistent.  Because, another universal truth is that consistency will yield measurable results you can count on. Your time will not be wasted, but your consistent efforts will build a momentum of progress that'll reveal itself to a point where others will ask how you seem to accomplish as much as you do with your time!  



Until next time...

- G -

"The wise person recognizes the precarious nature of time and seizes moments that make the most of it."  




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