Article by Kevin L. DeWitt

Do you feel guilty because you’re not doing enough?  I’m the first to admit that I don’t always remain calm when I don’t get everything done that I planned. Sometimes I get distracted; sometimes unforeseen events happen which get in the way of my ambitions; sometimes I simply tried to take on too much at once.

And sometimes I have a hard time not caring about unimportant things. I want the dishes to be clean and the carpets vacuumed … everything neat and tidy.  The problem is things don’t usually work like this.  In fact, they almost never work like this … meaning if I don’t relax I will always be frustrated.

The point is there’s always something to be done, always something else that needs to be finished, always some goal needing accomplished … and then we can feel happy (or so we think).  Right?  Of course, there’s only one problem.  Nothing is ever complete.  Not for long, at least.  Soon we remember another task, and the cycle starts all over again.

So if that time and place is impossible to reach, we have to stop caring about unimportant things.

If we’re ever going to lay aside irrational guilt for not accomplishing enough, for not completing everything on our “to-do” list, for enjoying a little peace that comes from being OK with taking things slowly … then we need to start enjoying our lives.

For me, this is definitely a work in progress.  I believe I am better now at enjoying the journey than I was before … but I have quite a long way to go towards learning to creating space in my life.  Nevertheless, here are a few suggestions:

Realize that not having everything done is a good thing.

This sounds awfully backwards … but it’s true.  Having things in your inbox means that your time is in demand.  And that’s a good thing.

Think less.

You might think that you need to think about things in order to work or to live.  But the opposite is usually true.  Most of the time, thinking is completely unnecessary.  Most of the time, you’re just thinking about the same things over and over.  That’s called a pattern.  Some call it brooding … whatever label you prefer.

Listen, feel, engage.

Simply try to be there.  The reason we’re usually in such a hurry is due to our creating an obsession with finishing things.  So the way out of that is to be where you are.  Listen to the ambient sounds you hear, feel your feet on the ground when you walk, feel your hands running through the water while you wash the dishes.

Let go of the need to always become more.

There will always be things you want to change about your life.  There will always be goals, dreams, desires and all manner of wonderful experiences to seek out.  Good.  Seek them out … but don’t sacrifice the present.  Don’t sacrifice the place you’re in right now, the relationships you value, the ones you love. 

See … when we’re always in a hurry, always looking to achieve a goal, we miss out on the miracle that’s around us.

“Don’t take yourself too seriously. If you can develop ability to laugh at yourself, you will be much more relaxed when given or giving criticism… Blessed is he who can enjoy his blunders.”

-John C. Maxwell

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