Task management - the single question to ask : WHY?

Its natural - most of us struggle to carry out number of tasks, big and small, simple and complex, trivial and important, in the different facets of life, and the journey. And in the quest to be better, resort to a whole lot of task and time management techniques!

And yet, we do not get to perfection. What is more frustrating than the task itself, is the 'how to' of it... we think, plan, make notes, schedule, organize.... yet see that we do not move an inch ahead in executing the task. In all probability, the execution happens not by plan but by force... in the last minute, due to mostly external compulsions.

One question to our self will change this habit and will make us see purpose behind the task, than just venture into it mechanically, using any time management tool.

It is -

WHY?

Ask yourself why you are required to carry out the task. Once you get to know the WHY, the HOW of it will easily fall in place.

For example, you are supposed to make a plan for the next project at work, and have been procrastinating. Ask WHY is making this project plan important? You will get to statements like-

- the plan is a reflection of my ability to manage projects.
- the plan is a crucial link in the event flow for the team.
- the plan asked from me is a reflection of the trust people have in me.

Once such a statement of purpose for the task is conclusively formed in the mind, then it gives enough shots of adrenalin in you, to just swiftly get into execution.

This technique can apply to any task, in any facet of life. And this is a technique that will work.

The way in which you will go about the task will be on a technique of your choice; but if there is no purpose behind the task, then no amount of thinking about the task, how to do it etc will be sheer waste of time, and cause stress, knocking off personal productivity.

So, do you have a WHY for your things to do today?

If yes, great; If no, then please sit down and make sure you have the WHY for every thing you do.

Dialogues within you?

What are the dialogues you have to yourself? Are you aware of the conscious and subconscious internal dialogue that goes on in your mind all day and all night long, throughout this journey of life?

Make small incremental efforts by being aware of the dialogue, and then slowly controlling the kind and nature of dialogue within you! Once we become aware that there are constant dialogues within us "our precious mind", then we also can easily ensure that these dialogues are harnessed to better our self in every way - on the personal, professional and social spheres!

Let these dialogues be powerful, making us better our personality, sending out better vibes in the place we are in, and solution finders rather than problem-brooders! Being happy, being positive, accomplishing things which we want to and just about any small or big endeavor in your life begins with the dialogue within you!

What is called 'powerful positive imaging' is nothing but holding a vivid image of what is desired within... and this image of the desired gets better and clearer - depending on how intense the dialogue within is!

Focusing on the dialogues within, in our minds, is one of the easiest steps to success and happiness in life.

What are the dialogues you have in YOU, right now? Let them be only about happiness, success and winning life, in your own terms!

Positivity, yes have loads of it; follow it by action, ACTION!

There is a whole new age movement on this topic, which I too love and live by – being positive. To use another word, be optimistic in any situation – even be it the darkest moments of life – there is honestly nothing so; it’s all your perception! You can look at the bright side of things if you want to!

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill.

So, for each one of us out here savoring this great journey of life, it is important to stay positive, and look for the brighter side in every situation, every endeavor – it is said that if you have the positive outcome in mind, and do your best, then success or what is desired MUST and WILL come your way!

But, a little more than being optimistic and staying positive is needed for each of us.

And THAT is the most important element that will be a success or outcome determinant - that is ACTION.

ACTION, in even small measures every single day will move you to what you what to want to get!

“You've done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.” – Ralph Marston

So, it’s all fine to stay determined, and look for the positive, be an incorrigible optimist!

But that mindset has to be backed by ACTION, even if in little incremental measures, by the hour, by the day and by the week.

As you look for the brighter side in every adverse situation, make decisions as to what action will usher in the brightness, and change things for the better! By decisions, I mean the decision to act in one way or other.

A tough moment or a challenging situation will come upon you so hard, that the first thing that can happen is feeling ‘incapacitated’ – and if there is one thing that will be of great power to you is to ACT! Look for what you can do immediately, to shake the hell out of ‘your’ inertia – and take the first step, even if it smallest or minuscule right then and there!

Trust me – when you take small steps in ACTION like that – adding up to your incorrigibly positive mindset, the change you see will be a complete transformation – of the situation you are in, of the person that you are!

"Actions speak louder than words." - Daniel Schiess

Remember, a combination of action with a positive mindset is a sure shot change agent, for you, for LIFE!

Conserve your "personal" energies!

It is commonly said that the human potential is unlimited, and we set our limits only as much we can imagine. And its so true - what we think is possible happens, come what may, and what we decide as impossible, in the mind, just does not happen. Not that this is a reflection of reality, but its our all powerful mind that has said so.

May be some of us have also mistook this fact about the power of the mind, and its ability to charter the unconquered.

Instead of imaging, dwelling and imagining what is important to us in the larger canvas and journey of life, we allow the mind to harp on a hundred unimportant, non-core-to-life, and even trivial things - so much that the energies and the power of the unique and mighty mind do not get channelized in a positive fashion, BUT worse, this powerful resource in us, gets drained and wasted, also draining us of our body energies.

This, knowingly or unknowingly we end up doing most of the time - to the extent that if we do a time inventory check, it will end up that we are 'draining our mind' most of the waken hours.

The best way to conserve energies of our mind is to make sure that we do not use it the completely wrong way - on negative thoughts, on trivia, on things that would not even matter few hours, few days and few months down the line.

This, each of us can do by conscious choice and practice and by self questioning our response to any stimuli, be it internal or external. And by making this daily practice, we can make ourself better persons, more focused on things that really matter.

Some of the questions which could be of help in making sure our most potent resource - mind energy - does not end up sapping us are -

1. Would this matter 20 minutes, 20 hours, 20 days and 20 months from now?
2. If i make a choice to respond more gracefully and positively to this situation, how would I be doing it?
3. Is my mind responding to the actual reality of the situation now, or to some imaginary, may not even happen later event?
4. Is the way I am reacting helping to get to a solution to any problem, or am I just aggravating things for the worse, for me, as well as for others?
5. Am I even focused on the right priority, or am I not spending my time in a better way, that I am being forced by boredom to attend to the trivia and unnecessary?
6. Is the way I respond the best thing to do, or would just ignoring it with a smile a more apt solution? I can always talk it over when the heat cools off!

These are just some indicative questions to yourself, and you can tweak it in a way that can be appropriate to what you chose to respond to, in your daily routine.

Ask such questions to yourself, as often as you can.

Conserving the most resourceful weapon you have - your mind - is easy this way.

Great life to you! Everyday, in this wonderful journey!!

Whats you life page today, looking like?

Look at each day as a notebook in the page of YOUR LIFE. The notebook is yours and you are the author of every single page in the notebook.

You may chose to leave the page blank, scribble it and fill the page with pictures that are not clear - but you also can fill the page with great things you do, things you stead-fastedly remain focused on, a make it a page that you will look up to.

Either its a page you have chosen to waste or its a page you create with love, dedication, and fervor - making every note worth its stroke.

The thing is - everything in that page is what you consciously wanted to be; yes they may have been influenced by events outside of your, and people who came across you during the day; BUT, unless you chose to give a place in the page of life, NOTHING can get into your page!

Fill the page of life with love, joy, happiness, great thoughts, good work, great relationships.

And seldom give anything negative - be it people, things or events around you - a chance to get into your page today!

You create the page of your life today and everyday. Only YOU. Do it in a way that it a a great work of art and love, and a page which every other page yearns to be!

So, how is your page going to be, now and today??

The Happiness thing – Are you happy? Say YES

It’s pretty important to be happy about what we do! Isn't it?

Think about it - if there are one hundred reasons that you think are right to be unhappy about, I would say there can be more reasons than that to be HAPPY!

And also think of this - most of your unhappiness is about tons of hypothetical things that are more your perception than anything which is real in the NOW!

You are unhappy thinking what will happen at office or work tomorrow, what happened the day before yesterday, and why you do not have something some else, you think has or had? Can you see reason and do you think it is funny? IT IS INDEED FUNNY.

So, rather than being unhappy about you don’t know, why don’t you make a conscious choice to BE HAPPY!?

Try doing that for a day or two – to begin in the morning, say to you – I am a happy person today, and I am being the best I am in the now!

By doing this, you will see that things and events sure pan out better, than when you thought you should be an unhappy person – the whole point is, we are all made to be happy.

“It's good to be just plain happy, it's a little better to know that you're happy; but to understand that you're happy and to know why and how and still be happy, be happy in the being and the knowing, well that is beyond happiness, that is bliss.” – Henry Miller

Like you always found reasons to be unhappy about nothing, why don’t you beginning now and today, STAY HAPPY and then see how things are for you?

Think about this too – by staying happy, you also are in a better frame of mind and body, which make things better than they can be!

Out there, de-stressing is a billion dollar industry, feeding to the happiness appetite, of a unhappy lot – unhappy about no reason! Don't join that gang. Just be happy!

And one final reason for you to stay happy – in YOUR OWN health, in the best interests of all those loved ones in your family and your own world, BE HAPPY.

Success is getting what you want; Happiness isliking what you get - Trevione Hudson

BE YOU... stop 'comparasitis'!

Take my word on this today – comparisons are the biggest bane we all face in our life journey! “Comparisitis”, as I would call itis the single most important block to your happiness and success.

What do I mean by “comparisitis”? It’s the most dreadful thing that can affect your mind and soul if left unattended to. That that lingering tendency in you to be someone else – live life by someone else’s standards - to peg you and your life against peers, friends, relatives, and the rest of the world!

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” E E Cummins 1955

So, know this, and live this - comparisitis in not the natural choice of being! By drawing comparisons to YOU, you are putting yourself to unnecessary stress, and making such a pleasant experience of life into a fight of sorts – and things which are quite natural to you, become otherwise.

What would you want the journey of life to be – a loving, every-moment-enjoyed spectacular journey or a dreaded battle, where you don’t even feel life getting up in the morning every day, dreading the fight - a fight that is of your own creation!

Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry ~Oscar Wilde, De Profundis, 1905

The cardinal rule of life is to have a strong belief that LIFE is unique and YOU are unique too!

It’s one fact you ought to realize – the journey of YOUR life is so UNIQUE, only you can make the best of it – by just being YOU.

I am sure you will not want to squander your journey, by making it a mime of someone else’s footprint!

Be yourself, in your wonderful journey! Shun comparisitis in you today! And if you would want to help others, please ask them to do so as well!

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are” E. E. Cummings

I have no doubt whatsoever, that YOU are courageous and would want to live only your signature.