It Feels Good vs. What I Should Do

How often have you found yourself spending hours doing something OTHER than what you should be doing? It could be anything from watching TV to browsing the internet. When you stop and think about it, do you find that you waste a lot of time? Yes, I know we're all very busy, but is that busyness necessary or a choice?

I was talking to my mother the other day about finding time to do certain projects. I've spoken to many people about "finding time". I've also observed people who tell me they're too busy for this, or too busy for that and my conclusion is... people fill their time doing what feels good to them. My mom was wondering why more people don't write letters... with a pen... on paper. Well, first it's 2012 and we have computers and smart phones now, but that activity is something that "feels good" to my mother. If I had an hour free to do whatever I pleased, I would not write a letter. She, however, could probably write about 3 in that time span.

I have a friend who won't sleep until her house is spotless. A clean house "feels good" to her. Me? There are dishes in my sink right now! I also have several friends who LOVE to talk on the phone. They spend quite a bit of time chatting away. That "feels good" to them... and I'm sure they'd argue it's something they "should do", they may even multitask while on the phone, but I wonder... if they spent a little less time talking and more time on other activities... would it create a more balanced life?

We all have the same 24 hours in our days and everyone finds "some" time in those hours to do what feels good to them. The question is, how much of that "feel good" time could be replaced with some "should do" time, without making you feel robbed of your joy?

I'm going to say its only a little.

For example, on the top of my "should do" list is exercise. These days you can get a workout done in as little as 10 minutes. Granted, the set-up, cool-down and clean-up time take it beyond 10 minutes, however, look at the end results of spending just a few minutes of your day exercising.

Another example, I have a bad habit I'm trying to break. I have this habit because it "feels good". So here is my solution. I have created several "should do" activities to get myself to stop my bad habit. Is it working? Sometimes. Why only sometimes? Because bad habits FEEL GOOD!

I would LOVE it if things I "should" do felt good. Many times they do not. What I have found is that if I spend a little less time doing what "feels good" and a little more time doing what I "should do" my life feels more balanced.

Bottom line, when I do what I "should do" I feel better when I get around to doing what "feels good".

Well, except for that bad habit. I'm still working on that. I hope someday my replacement habit will "feel good" too.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

~ Marianne Williamson

I'm holding on to every last image of summer.

I know fall is on its way.

Fall is beautiful...

...but this was a fantastic summer