It seems to me that we are always trying to tell each other what to do.
This computer is the one you should buy because it runs this software or it is compatible with this peripheral. This blogging platform is the one you should use because it’s the one everybody else uses and it looks more professional and has better analytics. This is the car you should drive because it’s made in America or it says something about your style or it gets better gas mileage or it’s greener than that one. You should use this tech company’s software, calendars, email client, or other tools because they’re better, smarter, faster, more intuitive, or likely to know what you want to do before you do.
Someone always has the right answer. Someone always knows how things should be done. Someone always knows the right way to do things. The only problem with that is…
Someone is not you.
You know, deep down inside, what works for you. You do. You just do. You know what feels right. You know what fits your style comfortably like a soft pair of khakis and what chafes you at every turn like a hair shirt. You know what slick, minimal tool makes you more productive and helps you fly through your to do list and what bogs you down and brings your work flow to a grinding halt. You know what keeps you on task and what distracts you. You don’t need me or anyone else to tell you these things.
All you need to do is to trust yourself, listen to that little voice inside that is trying to be heard over the hustle and bustle of twenty first century life and pay attention to it. That little voice, that nagging suspicion, that hunch, that pull towards one particular solution, is going to be right for you more often than not. No matter what the experts and pundits and salesmen and marketers and advertisers tell you, you can trust that voice every time.
It’s a new year. Turn everything off for five minutes. Just five minutes. Be still. Listen. What do you hear? What do you need to do today? You already know, don’t you?
Now get to it.
Happy 2012.
Thank you. In all the rush of Christmas/New Year, I haven’t taken time out to just stop and think about what I need.
Iris
You are quite welcome!
Happy reflecting.
Greg
Really nice, Greg. Your insight is always unique – something I value in a digital world of reverberation. I look forward to reading more in ’12.
Bryan
Thanks for the kind words. I respect you very much, so any positive comment from you about my writing is very much appreciated,
I wish you much prosperity and productivity in 2012!
Greg
My goal this year is to increase the time I spend in medititation
meditation on God’s word
Meditation on just listening to the world he gives us (without me telling God how he could have done it better)
Meditation on learning to just be me in the moment. No owning of papers, no bills that should be paid (because really .. will 10 min of meditation now have any effect on when they get the bill? not unless I’m a procrastinator, I’m not typically)
Meditation on learning to be the best me I can be.
~~ Peggikaye
(Happy New Year !)
Peggykaye
Excellent plan. Meditation and purposeful quiet time are very powerful.
Greg
Happy 2012 Greg! Damn straight I know what is best for me. Thanks for your much valued friendship over the past year.
Sandy
You bet!
I have enjoyed our friendship as well.
Happy 2012 to you.
Here’s to a safe, happy and productive year.
Greg
Thank you, Doc. Have a peaceful new year.
Have a chocophibious New Year!
Greg
greg
our minds are running along the same path…a few months ago i decided to be still for only a few minutes each day. instead of praying out my to-do list to the Lord, i decided to try & listen to Him for a change. it’s much more peaceful that way; more satisfying. during the busy holiday month, i have gotten away from this…thanks for reminding me:)
maria
Maria
I hope you were able to take as many of those quiet moments as you needed this holiday season.
Happy New Year!
Greg
greg
happy new year to you also, my friend. i pray your health issues are more tolerable … less pain for 2012 sounds good, huh?
maria
Maria,
Thanks!
Yes, less pain is always good. Off meds now, so that’s excellent.
Take care.
Greg
greg
thrilled the meds are gone! you take care yourself:) heading toward your neck of the woods this weekend…will be in charleston:) think i’ll have some shrimp & grits;D
maria
Ooh, have some for me!!
Wow! Here I thought Writing The Future was good (and it is!) and then I scrolled back to read this. This one is going to be tattooed permanently on my brain. I’m coming off of a break of several weeks from blogging and tweeting and posting etc etc, and managed to write a poem while I was unplugged. I need to let that voice out more. But I can’t let go of the online world completely–I’d miss things like this awesome post! Thank you!
Jackie
I admire you and your writing so much, so each positive comment from you is like a little gift waiting to be opened. Your New Year’s roundup was very good indeed.
Thanks as always for taking the time to read and especially for putting the thought into your insightful comments. As you know, bloggers live for comments, especially ones that lead to even more ideas and questions and thoughts to be explored.
Happy New Year!
Greg
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Wonderful message! Thanks!!!
Thanks very much for reading. Come back often!
Greg
Just discovered your blog through this post. Great advice here. I’m not sure why it’s so hard sometimes to turn everyone and everything else off and just trust ourselves and be true… but it’s the best way really isn’t it?
Nancy
Yes, it is.
So glad you found my blog and decided to stay and read a little. Please come back often and spread the word. I anticipate writing about some issues in mental heath this year that should generate some healthy discussion and maybe even make some sparks fly.
Greg
Will do!!:)