Yesterday a friend sent me the following daily affirmation from Neale Donald Walsch:
“On this day of your life, dear friend, I believe God wants you to know…
….that working hard is good, but getting things done is better.
Look to see how you are spending your day. Are you accomplishing anything? Is it anything that matters?
You have only so much time here. Don’t waste it. If you are really putting in a lot of effort, but not getting much done that matters, take a look at that. That’s all I’m saying. Take a look.
Love, Your Friend….”
So, in two days I had received two reminders. Makes me want to pause and evaluate. On Sunday the minister’s topic was “A Tough Mind and a Tender Heart.” The point of his message is that you can’t get caught up in the trivial stuff that draws you off center. You’ve got to be tough. You can’t do everything. You have to set boundaries, yet the boundaries can be set in a tender way to those pulling at you. Focus on what you are meant to do, and don’t be drawn off your purpose.
Today life is so busy and full of countless stimuli and options. In working to sift through all of the rubble, each evening I look at my calendar for the following day in anticipation of, “How am I to spend this day?” Just now as I write that question, I reflect on Flavia’s beautiful quote:
“Life is brief and very fragile. Do that which makes you happy.”
I share this quote in just about every presentation I make. Today I am thinking about a recent message I received. It ended with this statement:
“The first time I heard you quote the card from your friend is really when I realized just how short life is. I can remember that the more I thought about it, the more I realized that some things are important, some are urgent, and some will just pass you by if you let them…and I couldn’t let any more pass me by!”
I have been rotating between two CDs in my car this past couple of weeks, with the intent of soaking up the messages. One is by Joey Korn who wrote A Path to Enlightenment, and the other is Michael Beckwith in “The Life Visioning Process.” Both communicate the need to announce “I am open to do what I am meant to do.” The next step is to simply ask and listen for what comes up.
Yesterday our “Sage-ing” Group went to lunch. One person had a new box of affirmation cards she had just purchased. For fun, we went around the table and each drew a card. The message I drew was “Listen to your heart.” Hmm, there it is again…be quiet, ask, and listen for what comes up.
Perhaps good insights for all of us to ponder on today?
You can’t do it all. Your time is limited. Are you spending your time on things that matter? Are you setting boundaries with a tough mind and a tender heart? Perhaps most importantly, life is brief. Are you doing things that make you happy?
