I have to close out the year and finish strong.
I have to attend all the holiday parties I’m invited to.
I have to get all the gifts bought and wrapped.
I have to create my plan and set myself up to start the new year strong.
I have to . . . .
I thought this time of year was supposed to be full of joy, but it seems we all get caught up in “have to” syndrome. Ironically, I just finished reading two books others recommended to me that help us with the hurry of life. Hurrying occurs not just during the holidays but throughout the year.
One book is by a pastor, and the other is by a sports psychologist. One was recommended to me a while ago, and the other is a friend of mine. Both have great insights, but I don’t have time to share them all, so I have put links to the books at the end of this post, but below are a few principles I hope help you to lead yourself well during this holiday season and beyond.
Our Time Creates Us
“…how we spend our time is how we spend our lives. It’s who we become (or don’t become).”
John Mark Comer
As one year ends another begins maybe you create time to reflect on the past year and look at where you spent (or hopefully invested) your time. I have heard there are two places to find out our priorities . . . our bank account and our calendar.
We all have the same amount of time. The question is, are we leading ourselves intentionally or accidentally? Whether you have decades or years of life the way we use our time creates us.
I have a friend who passed away a year ago and in the last months of his life he was living his best life. He poured his time and energy into people. At his funeral, the room was packed, and it was a demonstration of a life lived on purpose, not just chasing the urgent.
Our Time Can Be Directed
“If everything in life is urgent, then fast is the only speed we have toward everything. And urgency toward everything will cause stress, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed.”
Dr. Rob Bell
Comer discusses disciplines such as silence, solitude, and slowing to help us with the problem of hurry or urgency that Dr. Bell mentions above. Your life is full as a leader, and you have a bent toward action. We can’t stop moving forward, but maybe we need to consider slowing down and creating space to relieve the stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.
In my book 25 Ways to Lead Better at Work and Home, I suggest nine ways to recharge, such as reading, being in a community that supports you, exercising, and others. This concept of recharging during the holidays can be as simple as a few minutes with your coffee in the morning, thinking and prioritizing your day to direct us out of hurry and into an intentional investment of time.
Patience is Essential
“Success grows in those who know what is important, and act with urgency toward the important. Peace rests with those who are also patient with the results.”
Dr. Rob Bell
A successful leader focuses on his or her priorities and moves with laser focus toward those few priorities. This leader patiently works the plan and knows the results take time.
This is a journey that is difficult for me because I want it done . . . yesterday. I am learning to enjoy the process and continue to consistently take steps toward the goal, knowing the results will come in time. Our job is consistently planting the seeds that will lead to our desired success. This requires persistence and patience.
How are you doing in these three areas? What could you do this holiday season to slow down and enjoy the process? As you look ahead to the new year, maybe you want to focus on your priorities to help you move purposefully and patiently forward with less hurry. Check out Prioritizing for Success to help you get focused as you round out this year and head into the new one. Resist the hurry, choose patience and lead well.
© 2023 Wheeler Coaching Systems, All Rights Reserved
Comer, John Mark. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.
Bell, Dr. Robb. I Can’t Wait to Be Patient (And The Fastest Way to Get There).
Wheeler, Randy. 25 Ways to Lead Better at Work and Home.
