Busy, Busy, Busy

Being busy has become a way of life for many of us. So much so that we begin to feel guilty if we find ourselves not being busy or we feel uncomfortable if we find we have nothing to keep ourselves busy. If we see someone who is not being busy then we think they may be lazy or unwell. If we are not busy, we try to think of ways to look busy!

In our work, in our office, in our home, we like to be busy. We may complain that we have not got a moment to ourselves and yet, when we find that time, we feel guilty and feel we should be doing something!

In our minds we seem to be confusing being busy with achieving. Our efforts to keep busy seem to be replacing our drive to be successful. Perhaps we feel that if we keep busy, at some point our efforts will magically bring success. Or perhaps we keep ourselves busy to take our minds off thinking about other things.

Yet, if you were to ask people what sort of life that would love to lead, how many would say they dreamt of a 'busy' life? Most of us would dream of a calm, peaceful and successful life, which is quite the opposite of a busy life.

Being busy is not a virtue, it is not a goal. Being busy is what happens when we find ourselves adrift from what really matters in our life. Being busy is what happens when we find ourselves working to the values and goals of others in our lives; our boss, our line manager, the company, even our parents, partners, children and, yes, even the other people living in our street.

Someone who looks busy may have the appearance of being successful, powerful, and influential but do they really feel that way? Usually not. Usually, the person feels flustered, annoyed, pressured and stressed. They feel as if they are not in control of their own time or their own lives and feel they are working to the demands of others.

Keeping busy takes people away from their own thoughts and visions. It takes them away from working toward their own success or their own purpose. Busy people have little time to consider 'the big picture', they are busy working on a little piece of a puzzle without knowing where or whether it fits.

People will say that they go to work and keep busy to earn money. This may sound fair enough but earning money is only a 'reason' for going to work. Having a 'reason' is not the same as having a 'purpose'. How many people would say that their purpose in life is to earn money? You may need to earn money, maybe lots of money, to achieve your purpose or live the life you want for yourself and your family but earning the money is not the purpose of life.

Being busy has effects upon ourselves that we do not realise. We stop talking to people; I mean really talking to them. Sure, we may talk about whatever thing we are each busy doing but do we really talk about anything else? How many of these people do we really know? We may know a bit about the work they do but do we really know anything about them as people? Do they know anything about us? Being busy takes time away from other things and from other people. How many of us have heard our partner complain that they do not see enough of us? How many of us would like to spend more time with our children or more time for ourselves?

Being busy has effects upon our health, how many of us have felt stressed as a result of being too busy? How many of us know we are under strain but fear to slow down in case we are seen as lazy or not pulling our weight? How many of us can find the time to book that urgent doctor's that we know we need but are just too busy to fit it in?

So, now, ask yourself these questions;

1) When I am being busy, whose purpose am I working for? Mine? My family's? The company's?

2) When I am not being busy, do I ever feel guilty, lazy or devious?

3) When I am being busy, how many people do I talk to? What do we talk about? Do I really know the people I talk to?

4) If I were not being so busy, what else could I be doing?

5) In the last week, how many successes have I had?

6) Could I become more successful without being so busy?

7) What benefits could it bring me and those close to me if I stopped being so busy?

Douglas Woods is a fully accredited Life Coach, teacher and counsellor. You can find out more about his work from his website, http://www.dougwoods.com

---

Success Showdowns

I confess, I love westerns. There is nothing like those... Read More

Life Lesson--Be, Do, Have

This revelation hit me the other day while I was... Read More

How to Always Get Whatever You Want

Do You Know You Have the Power to Harness Huge,... Read More

Be Successful : Take Back Control of Your Life

What would happen if you lived your life by design... Read More

Easy Steps to Work-Life Balance

Knowing when to disconnect, shut it off, unplug, or walk... Read More

Set Yourself Up For Success

I receive several emails every week asking me about how... Read More

Of Courage and Greatness

Courage is something that is reflected and reciprocated, and is... Read More

Today I Choose

Here is a great way to create affirmations that may... Read More

Reading For Success

We live in the information age, dominated by the development... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Create A Soundtrack

Choose a personal theme song and soundtrack that stirs you... Read More

Perseverance - How To Quit Quitting

The Definition Of PerseveranceFrom a dictionary: "Persisting in or remaining... Read More

Awaken to Something New in Your Life: Conscious Change

What do we want most from life? Certainly, we all... Read More

The Formula For Failure and Success

(Excepted from the book The Five Major Pieces to the... Read More

From Making a Living to Creating a Lifestyle

(excerpted from the Day That Turns Your Life Around)After having... Read More

What Do You Know?

"When I think back on all the crap I learned... Read More

Who Else Wants to Keep Failing?

Who wants to carry on being a failure?Failure. Not a... Read More

Posture Yourself for a Promotion

Sit up straight! You may recall hearing those words as... Read More

Change Your Results by Changing Your Expectations

Our expectations get us into a lot of trouble and... Read More

Are You Good Enough?

Several years ago, I attended a "success" seminar in northern... Read More

3 Basic Steps to Success in Anything

Since belief always precedes action, simply changing your beliefs can... Read More

Quantum Success Thinking

It sounds simple- right? You are where you THINK you... Read More

What is Success Really?

Every single one of us is trying to reach success.... Read More

Want To Succeed In Business, Social, Personal Life? Take Good Care Of Your Personal Image

Your personal image: It's the most important YOU asset you... Read More

Plants, Herbs and Roots For Prosperity

Plants of all kinds (including trees), herbs and roots have... Read More

People Are Who They Want To Be

Choice isn't always a matter of being able to choose... Read More

Success Without Excuses

If we hope to achieve any worthwhile goal it will... Read More

Self-Confidence Is The Key To Personal And Professional Success

In my audio program Book Yourself Solid, The 7 Keys... Read More

Effective Strategies for Stopping Procrastination

You will have the greatest success if you read the... Read More

5 Steps to Greater Workplace Productivity

Step 1 ? Learn a powerful key to increase financial... Read More

Setting Yourself Up For Success

Most people want to be successful in life. But success... Read More

Wait, Thats Not on the Map

Back from my amazing summer excursion, a month long drive... Read More

Preparing For Your Success

When is the best time to prepare for your success... Read More

Success Through Work And Training

Most self-help truths are obvious but obvious truths are often... Read More