When I coach facilitators, I take them through a feedback process that asks two questions.
What are your strengths?
What are your modifiable issues?
It’s always challenging for people to share strengths. They want to get right to the modifiable issues, challenges, and things they want to improve or do differently. When they respond, the most common answer is, “Time.” I also hear many people using a lack of time to justify why they aren’t doing the things that they really want or need to do in their lives.
“I don’t have enough time.”
“If I had more time…”
Words have power. The frequency of our plea for more time may cause it to manifest, though not in the way that we had hoped for. Unfortunate situations are often accompanied by excess time. This reminds me of the first time I had an unintended pause in my career. I had just graduated from grad school and although I was highly qualified and experienced, I couldn’t find a job in my field no matter how hard I’d tried. Being forced to stay home during that time was the greatest gift. That was when I finally sat down to write my first book.
How might you invest the gift of time for a high return on the other side?
Imagine more time with our children and families, more time away from the office, more time at home, more time to work on that project, passion, or purpose we’ve always wanted to give more attention. Recently, I was facilitating a retreat for facilitators, and when someone used time as their reason for not showing up how they had hoped to, I posed this question to the entire group…
What might it look like to reimagine time? What if, instead of viewing it as a fiery and fleeting fear to face, we reimagined it as a fun and flexible phenomenon that can be molded and transformed based on how we shift our perception?
Here are some suggestions on how to reimagine time and activate the power of the pause.
Innovate. How might you transform your skill or talent into an alternative offering? There are several things that were once relevant that no longer are, and several things that are needed that do not yet exist. This month, I am using all of the extra time that I’ve been gifted to transform all of my in-person coaching, training, and consulting offerings into virtual, digital, and automated offerings that can still be accessed by my clients.
Review. I’m certain that at one time or another you’ve experienced challenging circumstances that have thwarted your plans. This means it’s time to review and reflect. Plans are not meant to be made and done independently. They are parts of a powerful cycle where learning occurs, and our problem-solving skills are strengthened. The coaching and facilitation work that I do is deeply rooted in this process, which is called, Plan-Do-Review. Constantly re-work your plan to fit the current state of affairs.
Create. There are several real and pressing problems occurring not only globally, but right in our local communities. What could you create to solve a problem? Trade the time you’ve been spending watching the news and being sucked down social media mass hysteria rabbit holes for brainstorming ways to make a difference. Write a list of all of the most challenging issues that the world is facing such as access to food, education, healthcare, and accurate information. Once you’ve exhausted all of the possibilities, identify where your skill sets intersect. Whether it is a new invention or art that inspires, you have the power to make a difference.
This week I challenge you to activate the power of the pause. Take this gift of time to take action on what you’ve been wanting and meaning to do, if only you had the time. For some of us, that means rest and stillness. Using this time for healing and recovery is just as powerful as any other action you can take. Reimagine time. There is power in the pause.
Manifestation Affirmations
I am investing my time wisely.
I am grateful for the gift of time.
I am learning and growing through challenges.
Master Your Mind + Master Your Body + Master Your Money = Manifest a Life You Love Most Sincerely, Monica Marie Jones Your Soul Journey Guide