I went to see my friend Stacey for a massage at Mainely You Massage a few days ago. I had picked the time so that I would not have to rush around to get there. I had the entire day off from work and had planned things to do (lunch and book-browsing with my friend Kristen, visiting another friend Teresa at her ice cream shop to try some new flavors that she created, dinner out with both of my children at the same time!) to which I was really looking forward and about which I was very excited. I arrived 15 minutes early for my appointment, after seeing my daughter of to school, my husband off to his job.
Stacey said, “How are you feeling this morning?” and I paused (completely uncharacteristic of me) and considered this question for a second before I responded. “Rushed!” I was feeling like there wasn’t enough time. I felt pressured. “And there’s not one reason for my to be feeling this way!” I admitted. I pretty much always feel like I don’t have enough time to do the things I want to do, yet here I was, at the beginning of a day filled with exactly that, and I was still carrying this feeling around!
“That is a mantra that you created,” Stacey offered, inviting me to be focused on the thought, “I have plenty of time,” which is true, instead of “I don’t have enough time,” which is (usually) not.
Wow.
As I went about my day, I started to really notice my thoughts, and was shocked at the number of times just that morning that I thought, “I don’t have enough time”!
Louise Hay, in many of her books, writes about the idea that, basically, “What you think is what you get.” I’ve believed this but for the first time I considered it in a different plane, almost, because even when I really did have all the time I wanted, it was right there in front of me, I didn’t see it. Wasn’t appreciating it.
Has this ever happened to you?
Karen Creamer Author, Coach, Speaker 
I can so relate. When I find myself thinking that I don’t have enough time, I sit myself down and prioritize the things I want to get done. I often find that the feeling of the sands of time running through my fingers is more due to anxiety and my imagination more than anything else.
You’re so right about that. It’s amazing how much we can do when we just get out of our own way! 🙂
Isn’t that Stacy so wise?
You can say THAT again! 🙂
We pretend to be busy towards things we are not interested in. Next time before saying ‘I don’t have time’, let me try ‘to see’ whether it is actually there. Good thought…
I have really been trying to change this habit too this week. I just accomplished a task that last week I’d convinced myself I could not do due to time constraints…here I am just 7 days later and it’s done. Good luck to you!