WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE REST OF TODAY?

By Doug C. Grant

Your answer to above question could determine how long you will live.

Strong words? Maybe. But research says otherwise.

HERE IS WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US.

When we organize our day, we control our day. When we control our day, we control our circumstances. When we control our circumstances, we control our future. When we control our future we control our lifestyle. When we control our lifestyle, we become more positive. And when we walk positive we can expect to enjoy a longer, happier life. Whew! Took awhile to get there but well worth trip.

DON'T LET THE WORD ‛ORGANIZE' FRIGHTEN YOU

I'm not suggesting a minute by minute or even hour by hour regimentation. That's tedium.

What I call ‛The Empowered Organization Plan' is easy, flexible but effective. . It's also a little unusual so listen carefully.

HOW THE PLAN WORKS.

You begin with a weekly calendar. I have an inexpensive calendar program that prints out my weeks on an 8 ½ x 11 page. That gives me plenty of writing room. But don't get hung up on format. If nothing else, a sheet of paper separated into seven days with a ruler and pencil will work. Whatever you use...begin!

I generally lay out my week starting on Sunday evening. It only takes about five or ten minutes.

There are eight basic activities I generally incorporate into a week. These include: work, play, exercise, rest, learn, social, spiritual and service. You can edit this list to fit your own lifestyle.

‛Work' and ‛play' need no explanation, (I hope). ‛Exercise' might be a power walk, formal workout or any activity that pumps blood. ‛Rest' is not sleep. It's spending time just letting go. This might include reading a novel, watching TV, listening to music or studying cracks in a wall.

‛Learning' could be job related, hobby related or any subject that interests you. ‛Social' includes time with your family, friends or cultivating new friends. ‛Spiritual' is any form of worship, meditation, or study...formal or otherwise. ‛Service' is doing something for an individual or a group for which you do not expect repayment.

I recommend your week include some of each.

NOW...LET'S START ORGANIZING.

I begin by selecting a focus for every day of week. For example, five days might be ‛work' focused. Sunday is ‛worship' centered. Saturday is often ‛play' or ‛service' oriented.

“You gotta dance like nobody's watching, dream like you will live forever, live like you’re going to die tomorrow and love like it's never going to hurt.” —Meme Grifsters

The summer I turned 40 was a summer I’ll never forget. As I reflect, it was when I truly started living my life.

It all started week before my birthday. I was driving home from airport with my husband. We had just dropped our youngest child off for a month long bicycle expedition, and I was looking forward to a glorious, leisurely month of time together. I had a full agenda of projects I was excited to complete. I was ready to play.

As we were driving down highway this seemingly innocent thought popped into my mind.

” You are about to turn 40. How will it be when you get to end of your life and you look back? How will you feel about life you lived?”

The thought passed. I was distracted by next moment and I continued on. That night I woke up in a cold sweat, with my heart pounding and my mind racing with crazy thoughts. Could this panic attack have been triggered by simple thought I had in car that afternoon?

You bet it was. Over next several months I proceeded to spiral into waves of anxiety and depression so powerful that I almost lost ability to function. Not only was I in a state of internal panic but also I was also confused because my life had felt so good. I was happy, had a successful marriage, two wonderful kids, and a job I reasonably enjoyed. What was my problem?

My problem was I was hitting my head against my own “glass ceiling” and not realizing it. I was poised on a precipice of knowing there was more and not knowing how to break through and access it. What’s more, I had let my “practical” and fear-based side convince me that my passion and dreams had died.

In retrospect whole painful experience was a profound wake up call.

I did wake up. Today, five years later my life looks similar on outside but on inside has profoundly changed.

These are my top ten shifts in perspective that helped me move my life to next level. I invite you to consider them to assist you in breaking through your own glass ceiling to create life you really want.