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A Penny For Your Thoughts: On Removing the Word Busy

I have been getting a series of emails from an organization called “Be More With Less” that have really effected my language and day to day attitude, so I thought I would share a few gems/take aways from them.

1. Stop using the word “Busy” – You are not busy against your own control, we are actively choosing busyness and you can actively choose to eliminate the word from your vocabulary and the overwhelming nature of busyness from your life… it will take time, prioritization and sacrifice, but it is possible. Also, my side note that has nothing to do with this, try to stop using “tired” as an excuse as well. It starts to be like the boy who cried wolf. If you aren’t up to talking about something say “I’m not up to talking about that”, not “I’m tired”… It’s just a bad habit worth focusing on breaking.

2. Learn your strengths and release what is not important. This has been SUCH a lesson for me in my current season. It could also be to focus on what you want to be good at and don’t worry about what it is not important to you. We spend so much time doing what we “should” do we aren’t focused on what we are even good at. We are jealous of others giftings when we are equally gifted, just not in the same ways. We wrestle with accepting ourselves for who we are. Accept who you are and fine tune the things that make you tick. I love food, and for the longest time I felt guilt and shame for that. I am learning to channel it. I hate cleaning, and for the longest time I felt guilt and shame for that. I am learning to prioritize it when necessary and remove the shame when it’s not.

3. Linger More – Guys, this is SUCH an American problem. We take pictures of beautiful settings, but we rarely take time to actually sit and enjoy them. Let the candles burn down. Talk. Don’t make 10 plans in one day, make one and then just be there, fully present. Just be with people, don’t fabricate a perfect moment for social media. Be the last ones on the dance floor. Watch the fire burn out. Guys, another thing I am guilty of is fabrication of meaningful moments. I am now even learning to even linger when walking my dog. Just enjoy the moments in life and limit your distractions. Seriously limit them. Start leaving your phone behind… on purpose. Just try it, it’s really very freeing.

4. This has been the biggest one for me: “Lose the guilt. Instead of thinking about the opposite of busyness as lazy, I invite you to consider that the opposite of a busy life is a full life and an intentional life.” 

Guys, these ideas have really been rocking me lately. 

 Remove "Busy" from your vocabulary, learn your strengths, linger more and lose the guilt. 

 Yup, I could work on all those things.  How about you?!


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