Jump Off the Runaway Time Train of Inefficiency-Relaxation and Awareness Lead to Efficient Expansion

Do you ever feel like you are riding a runaway time train struggling to have time for all that you want to do?

I personally have a million excuses and reasons as to why I did not blog for the entire spring season, and part of me peacefully embraces the idea that everything happens as it is supposed to happen. Certainly, I focused on gardening other parts of my business. Still, another part of me urges a deeper and more conscious examination of what I did with my time, what I learned, and how I expanded and contracted.

Takeaway points that may help you:

1) Fear of Failure is an illusion and waste of energy;

2) Relaxing into a mindset of hearing your voice of wisdom, which only knows success, is key to efficient expansion;

3) Become aware of how you spend your time and keep the awareness so that each moment is valuable.

It all started with skipping the second blog in March because my computer had to spend about a week in the technology hospital (NanoTech Computers in Old Town Alexandria, VA, which I positively recommend) after water leaked on it in my bag. Ironically (but not really), at the same moment my computer was getting drenched, I was wishing I had a second computer so I could leave one at the office. I had also been pondering how I could make my business paper-free; however, I wasn’t taking the time to explore either intuitive hint/goal.

1) Upon learning my computer was not functional, my initial protective ego reaction was to feel panic (as a fear-of-failure thought erupted-“Not only will I not get a second computer because I’ll have to buy a new one now, but I won’t have a computer for the emails and client deliverables I have due.”). About 30 seconds of stress and the underlying fear-of-failure siren was followed by the advice I give clients: Relax and do something to calm the false alarm. Since I knew that this was not a physical survival situation requiring a stress/adrenaline response, I stopped and did the relaxing harmonizer, which I explain in the March 1st blog.

2) In about two minutes, I was back to a relaxed creation mode with an underlying belief that success was assured. Indeed, many times in my life, when I haven’t taken the time to explore something that I intuitively knew I should, the universe has kindly forced a situation, such as this one. I intentionally opened my mind to allow the solutions to unfold, trusting that the water was just part of the growing process.

The next day, I walked out of the Apple Store with an iPad (my second computer) and spent the next several days learning about ways to make my professional and personal life more efficient and paperless. Countless hours were spent eating the Apple and exploring other technology inventions, re-engineering my company’s processes (see new online scheduling).

Meanwhile, because I also visited NanoTech when Apple didn’t have a satisfying repair option, I had a free loaner computer (in case the iPad wasn’t sufficient) while NanoTech repaired my computer at a reasonable price.

Summary: I had everything I needed to succeed during the process of developing a more efficient business and person, and this efficiency grew from an initial conflict.

I wish I could tell you what I did with the rest of the time that I had originally marked for blog-writing. As a budding entrepreneur, I wear many hats, and it has felt challenging to balance them all, but I’m learning. It stands out that I had some wonderful speaking and teaching opportunities as well as networking and partnership-building experiences. The business growth spurts continue on both the individual and the organizational/leadership fronts (we even expanded to Australia with SKYPE technology). And, I earned my Kundalini Yoga and Meditation Teacher Certification at the end of May-this experience was truly a gift and worth the time. (More to come on that for those who are scratching your heads.)

Bridgenosis® LLC had its soft launch one-year anniversary in early May but will have its official one-year anniversary in early August. Feeling much gratitude for all the support that clients, friends, family, and the community have offered. Thank you. This has been the most joyful working year of my life. Double appreciation and apology to those who urged me to send more blog articles.

3) I have had my own “Bridgenosis” moments as I learn to apply awareness on every business front to create success in each moment. It took the water incident for me to realize I had already outgrown my initial processes and needed to upgrade. At the same time, someone visiting my home noticed a plant that I had bought when I first started the company had vastly outgrown its pot. It was sitting there agitated for a few months before I realized (only because he pointed it out) it needed to be transplanted.

My latest learning of awareness comes with trying to understand where else spring went and why I’m just now getting back to my blog. What else is diverting me away from my commitments such as this blog? How am I spending my time? Some of the diversions have been productive, but admittedly, I have also been hijacked onto the subconscious runaway time train that so many of us are riding these days as we become infinitely accessible to all information and people. Luckily, my iPhone has an easy tool to help me investigate this: Eternity.

As of last Saturday, I am spending a week tracking all of my time. I can already tell you that using the tool raises an awareness in and of itself, and I have refrained from certain diversions. Here I thought I cleverly left “big brother” behind as I started my own venture, but it’s true that I need to wear that hat too, now. Stay tuned for insights on how to be more balanced and efficient and what beliefs/habits/illusions may be underlying your diversions, procrastinations, and commitment failures. In other words, accountability will be the main topic of the next blog.

Signing off now as Laura Palmer of Bridgenosis® LLC in-the-raw. We welcome questions, comments, and stories: laura@bridgenosis.com. And, if you need help seeing the wisdom among the chaos, call us at (202) 709-6013.