Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.
Fascinating Wall Street Journal Article on being busy.
(via Joanna Goddard)
Wow!! Just what I need to say to my children-especially my daughter when she comments on my lack of cleaning skills in my house-would rather sit on the beach or be shopping.Anything but cleaning!!!
Mar 10th, 2012 / 2:51 pm
So wise. Thanks for sharing this!
Mar 11th, 2012 / 1:42 pm
Absolutelly agree!
Mar 13th, 2012 / 6:37 pm
This is TRULY great. I will implement this from now on…This is my PRIORITY!
Mar 15th, 2012 / 6:21 am
This is such a great idea!
Thanks for sharing!!!
May 10th, 2012 / 1:35 pm
This is amazing!
I’ve been conducting a war on the word “should.”
And substituting “I want.”
So, not “I should change the cat box,” but “I want to change the cat box.”
Or, not “I should go work out,” but “I want to go work out.”
If I think, “Oh, no, really I don’t want to do that,” then I have made a valuable insight. And I can say, “well, I *do* want to feel better so if I go to the gym, I’ll feel better.”
Mar 11th, 2015 / 6:34 pm