Making Space

Do you have something in your life that you want to make room for?

We all have dreams or even small ideas that niggle at the back of our minds just waiting for space to be expressed, don't we?

So, what is holding us back?

Probably doubt.

But another issue that may be a tougher nut to crack is looking at how we are spending our time and determine activities that are the most time consuming, even if we happily engage in those activities. We have to determine if those activities can either be cut back on or eliminated all together to make space for what we really want.

My main "something" that I've been longing to spend more time on has been my ART. Over the past few years, as I've discovered the wonders of watercolor, I've wanted to engage with it all the more.

But so many responsibilities and activities have prevented me from doing so.
So recently, in my journal, I asked the question, what is holding me back from engaging in art more so, since this is the Heart of Who I Am. No second guessing that.

I touched on a few issues concerning doubts about my direction and other smaller things related to certain projects I have in mind. But I knew that wasn't the Core Issue. My main problem was where I was spending too much of my time.

So I got serious about looking more closely at my time-sucks.
Obviously my increasing duties where my skills are greatly needed in our Bill's Quality Electric, LLC electrical contracting company are of primary importance, which I already knew. So that wasn't the issue.

Soon I discovered what was the most time consuming, and why it was. So I decided that I needed to create more boundaries, determine what mattered most and greatly reduce what wasn't necessary. Of course, it hasn't been easy. Old habits die hard.

But every extra moment I've had in my studio as a result has been a great reward for reducing the other activity.

So, how do you reckon with making more space for your desired activity, perhaps an Authentic Refreshment?

You have to look honestly at what is sapping your time and energy and really determine what matters most.
What will you lose if you either limit the other activities or eliminate them altogether? Be totally honest here. Reckon with any illusions that may be causing you to think something negative could happen when, really, you  know it won't. You just think it will.

Once you have that figured out, set a do-able goal on how to make that change in time spent on that activity that isn't deserving as much time if any at all. Don't be afraid to let go of something if you think you'll really miss it. (Like emails that are begging to be deleted but you're hanging on to them just in case. I'm always surprised by the relief I feel when I hit that delete button; and I've never missed even one of those emails!)

There is a time and a season for everything; and sometimes what we used to spend vast amounts of time doing no longer feeds us like it used to. If it feels like it's sapping you instead of adding to you, you know it's time to make a change.

Once you start implementing the change, be gentle with yourself if you fall back to doing that activity too much again; just get back to the greatly desired activity that you really want to do, and you'll get into flow of Who You Are.

Remember, we are constantly changing. What worked for us before may not work for us now. The more we really listen to those changes and embrace what really keeps us centered and aligned with Who We Are, the happier, more peaceful and more energetic we'll be.

You have that idea or activity in mind for a reason; don't neglect what your soul really wants. Give it space to express itself. That positive change just might change your life!

© 2014 by Dawn Herring