***Find More Time and Space by Letting Compassion Open Your Heart and Keep You in the Flow

Finding time works best when you are organized and efficient. But, as I am sure you know, it takes a lot more than to-do lists. For example, when you run into roadblocks, or when something unexpected throws you off-track, you need to marshal enormous resourcefulness and resilience to get yourself through. And while resourcefulness and resilience require agility, flexibility and creativity, these qualities may not be part of your knee-jerk response when your plans are threatened. Indeed, your instincts may tempt you to entrench yourself in rigid patterns. Unfortunately, what this usually accomplishes is to create a vicious cycle will probably set you back further and further. So, I’d like you to consider a different approach – opening your heart to compassion in those moments when your first, instinctive response is to clench. Take a deep breath and visualize your heart opening. You’ll feel something change, as compassion opens you to your potential to step free from this frozen cycle and let your energy and creativity flow. The more you cultivate compassion, the more easily you will thrive in the face of change. Compassion helps you build flexibility, courage, and creativity no matter what is happening in your everyday life. Given the unending stream of challenges that comprise the weave of our days, nurturing your power of compassion can provide sustaining strength in all seasons. Here are some examples: 1. Compassion helps you step into reasonable risks. When you accept that you are human, you know that you can learn from every experience. You needn’t fear that you will “turn on yourself” if you take a risk and it doesn’t pan out. Your compassion and healthy humility open you to the lessons to be learned – and you might even discover nuggets of unexpected wisdom as you bounce back and put your lessons to use. 2. Compassion helps you use your mistakes to develop better systems. Compassion isn’t a way to "let yourself off the hook". On the contrary, it’s a way to take more responsibility for your actions! Being compassionate with yourself when you make mistakes, means that you will “recover” sooner and be able to make improvements and move forward. Rather than letting you off the hook, it enables you to be productive and effective no matter what! 3. Compassion supports you as you strive to balance your priorities and your basic needs. Accepting that life can be challenging and that you are responsible for taking care of yourself helps keep you grounded in reality. Knowing your limits will help you pace yourself. You won't feel attracted to unrealistic, grandiose goals, because you are comfortable with your essential self. Compassion helps you maintain clarity, balance and perspective with more ease. When you open your heart and shine the light of compassion on yourself it has a ripple effect. You’ll find that you are, by extension, safeguarding your health, enhancing your relationships and opening new vistas as you move more freely in the world. From this position of benevolence towards yourself and others, you are empowered, in each moment, to make better use of your time. So use your compassion to create your next step toward finding more time. And to move toward your Heart-Based Time Success, sign up for our free gift, the Finding Time Success Kit which includes "The New Finding Time Boundary Template: 9 Simple, Sequential Steps to Find More Time and Recharge Your Energy!" Using a workbook format, this powerful and practical time template will help you move beyond overwhelm, disappointment, and frustration and discover that 24 hours really are enough! Offered by Paula Eder, Ph.D. The Time Finder Expert.