When Will You Have the Time?

"I don't have the time"... has become the droning refrain of our day. I don't have time for myself. I don't have the time to breathe. I don't have time to pursue what's important but not urgent. Well I'm here today to challenge you with this question: If not now, when? When will you have the time to do the thing you keep affirming you don't have time to do?

The list of things we say we want but affirm we don't have time for is long and varied. Here is a short list of things most of us say we want, almost all of which are preceded by the affirmation "I don't have time:"

I don't have time to...

• Exercise
• Meditate
• Start a new hobby
• Take a class for fun
• Go back to school
• Cook a good meal
• Create a new positive habit
• Read something uplifting
• Take the dogs for a walk
• Update your resume
• Relax
• Visit a friend
• Pursue a spiritual practice
• Volunteer for a good cause
• Get involved in a self-help program
• Learn a new skill
• Start journaling
• Start writing your book
• Investigate a new career path

The truth of the matter is that we all get the same amount of time. What we do with that time is entirely up to us. We can continue to affirm our lack of time (repeating "I don't have time" dozens of times a day is in fact an affirmation) or we can start affirming, "I have all the time I need to pursue, do, or create what is really important and valuable to me." Once you begin repeating that affirmation the challenge is on to examine what you're allowing to stand in the way of what you say you want. You may discover that you don't really want it at all, or that it's someone else's "should" that you've adopted as your "want." You may find that taking action to follow your path will involve parting with some habitual activity or practice; maybe even changing the people you hang out with.

But what is your life worth to you? What is it worth to you to make the time to pursue what you say you want? Would it be worth resigning from that committee you no longer enjoy? Would it be worth "disappointing" someone who has the mistaken impression that you walk on water? Would it be worth saying no to someone else in order to say yes to yourself?

During this busy season, catch yourself each time you repeat the mantra "I don't have time" and challenge that statement. Ask yourself if there is something you can do right now, rather than waiting for "when I get the time" to start creating more of what you want in your life. I can think of no better gift to give yourself this year than the time to reflect and decide what it is you want and the commitment to start making it happen.

There will be no better time than now. Now is the only time you have. The question is: what will you choose to do with the time you have? What's it worth to you?

You do have the time. Now take the action.