Reclaiming Your Time: Are You in Control of Your Schedule?
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Chapter 1: Questioning Control
Recently, I encountered a question that completely shifted my perspective on life. It shattered the assumptions I held about myself—believing I was organized, self-sufficient, and in charge of my own destiny.
The question that sparked this transformation was simple yet profound:
“Do you have a schedule, or does your schedule have you?”
This inquiry has occupied my thoughts so much that I can barely recall where I first heard it.
To quote a wise saying: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
Satori and Realization
The Japanese Buddhist term "Satori" translates to “sudden enlightenment.” Upon contemplating my scheduling habits, I came to a striking realization: my schedule had taken control of me.
It had become my master, dictating my every move, and turned what should have been a tool for organization into a relentless taskmaster. Instead of using my schedule to enhance my life, I found myself a prisoner to it, constantly checking it to ensure I adhered to rigid time blocks.
This was a stressful and disheartening existence, as a resource meant for self-improvement had morphed into a tyrant, weighing heavily on my spirit.
Embracing Our Humanity
For a long time, I loathed the phrase “self-help.” I preferred to refer to it as “personal development,” which sounded more sophisticated. However, I’ve come to embrace a different truth: I need all the assistance I can get.
This is what I appreciate about being human: we are wonderfully imperfect beings who, despite our efforts, often miss the mark in amusing ways. Acknowledging this has enriched my life immensely, allowing me to embrace the present moment and reflect on my past selves with a sense of humor.
What unites all my previous selves? They all believed they had everything figured out.
Regaining Authority Over Time
With this newfound understanding of how my schedule had controlled me, I am now actively reclaiming my time. While I will still utilize tools like Google Calendar and the Ivy Lee Method for planning, I will ensure that my schedule fits into my life rather than the other way around.
When life proves to be more expansive and time-consuming than expected, I will smile and gently set my schedule aside. My intention will be to choose:
- Living freely instead of agonizing over tasks
- Breathing deeply instead of criticizing myself
- Experiencing life rather than counting every second
To lose track of time while engaging in a life that genuinely excites me seems like a much more worthwhile pursuit than obsessively monitoring each moment.
Did anything I shared make you smile, reflect, or contemplate? If so, feel free to follow me on Medium and subscribe to my newsletter for weekly insights filled with inspiration and a dash of humor.