There are no shortages of activities of ‘things’ vying for our attention. It is beyond easy to get distracted these days. But when you’re working on reaching a goal, you cannot get distracted. This podcast is your (and my) reminder!
Podcast Transcript
Most of my podcast ideas come to me when I am doing my morning affirmations while walking our family dog, Pepper. I think the combination of being outside, moving my body, and talking to myself help. The past few weeks have been very busy with my full-time job and kids schedules. I may have also over volunteered myself because I do think volunteering is important. However, I might need to re-evaluate how much time I allocate for volunteering at this season in my life. Anyway, I have felt ‘the busy.’ I have a podcast on being busy and how we are choosing to be busy. I fell into the trap this past month or so and have not been able to focus as much time on my other priorities.
Last night my kids were with their father and I didn’t have any plans. I really do love my Friday nights like that. Especially after a few long weeks. I worked out, showered, and spent a lot of time in meditation and prayer to get back into alignment. It never fails me. A peace washes over me and it feels like my brain begins to work again. Sort of like when you wake up and haven’t had your coffee yet and then all of sudden, you drink your coffee and…Bam! You’re amazing and have so much energy and ideas. Yes, that is what meditation and prayer and being in alignment does for me. When I talk about being in alignment, for me that is a spiritual alignment with my good, God-given energy and my purpose. I know I am supposed to be working on and creating Something Better, My Darling. Trust me, I have asked for my signs plenty of times and I keep getting them. This is where I need to be. I don’t doubt that. Where I get out of alignment is what I am supposed to be doing to build and grow and make sure I can help women find their nudge and reach their potential. What actions do I need to be taking now that the initial business is set up? I find myself worrying when I don’t need to be, or getting frustrated when I don’t need to be. I know God has this. I surrendered this to Him before I started. My alignment needs to come in listening and knowing which actions to take. That is the alignment I LOVE. Some people call it high vibes. Good energy. Feeling good. Whatever you want to call it. Yes, I love it all. I love when I am in a high vibe and bouncing off of the walls with ideas and opportunities. But you know what, that comes when I am in alignment and have focused my energy on being there. But you know what else? I get distracted! Easily. I wish I didn’t, but being a single mom with a full-time job and trying to volunteer, be in a Bible study, travel for work, date, and do all of ‘things’ I think I am supposed to be doing…I get distracted. Back to my walk when this thought came to me it was in the context of that mean, mean guy in the Bible named Satan and how he tries to distract us from what is good and what is right. Then I got mad at myself and said out loud, “Don’t get distracted!” I know I feel a million times better when I am in alignment and taking inspired, meaningful action. I know I show up as a much better mom, employee, sister, daughter, friend, you name it when I am in alignment. I know that ideas and opportunities come faster when I am in alignment. Why in the world would I want to get distracted from that?? Well, I don’t want to. But it happens.
Please understand that I am not calling my children or my full-time job a distraction. They are not, they are a must and a priority. When I say distractions I mean everything else that is fighting for our time. Social media (woofta!). TV. Dating. Volunteering. Some of these are not bad distractions, but for me, for my end goal in being able to grow and help hundreds and eventually millions of women. I cannot get distracted. Unless I want this to take me until I am 100 years old. These are all okay things. But in moderation. Much like I had to track my headspace to figure out where all of my time was being spent in thought. I need to track my time as well to make sure the pockets of ‘free’ time I have are being used to the max! Time is the ONE darn thing we can’t get, or make more of. It has to be protected. How do we do that? How do we avoid distraction? Clearly I am not an expert in this since I have been distracted and then had to completely slam my foot on the breaks. But I think that is step ONE. You have to realize that you are getting distracted and then step TWO, inventory what is distracting you. I use the budget analogy a lot. Figue out what is distracting you, and then make cuts and adjustments like you do in your financial budget.
Are you finding that when your weekly phone activity report comes in from Apple that your time on your phone is WAY too high? Okay, cut it by 5 or 10 minutes. If you want to go on Facebook, okay, but set a timer so you don’t end up spending an hour scrolling and watching videos. Or maybe you like TikTok and watch an hour go by on the clock. It think Instagram Reels are the same thing! I get lost in those! Do the same for TV if you are a TV watcher. Sit down for 1 or 2 episodes, not a full series.
Where this is the hardest for me. When I have my kiddos I protect that time. That time is for them. But when they are with their dad I try to pack in as many things as I can. This is where I am getting distracted. Again, this is in my case and what I am working towards with Something Better, My Darling. It would be the same as someone training for a marathon or event. You have to sacrifice and give up something to reach your goal. If you want to lose weight, you have to put down the oreo (you all know my love of oreos!), and get your butt to the gym. You might have to sacrifice some time with friends or being out so you can get to bed on time.
I got distracted. After Sven, I really didn’t want to date. I did date my hunky guy in South Dakota, but it didn’t work. 4 hours might be too far, which yes, I realize is ironic since Sven was 5,000 miles away. Anyway, I keep saying I am not going to date, but then someone asks me out and I go. I am MUCH better than I used to be and do not give everyone a chance, but still, I have given some chances. I am not saying that I should not be given any chances, but I need to be more protective of how much time I give them if I agree to go on a date, and be quick to pull the plug when I know it isn’t matching up with my goals. It might not be the date itself, but even time texting or headspace on them. I truly believe God has the person for me and it will be easy and work when it is supposed to. I don’t know what that is however. LOL. But, what I do know is that I am supposed to be helping women and young girls. For me to do that, I might have to make a few ‘sacrifices’ in my dating life, and that is okay! My top priority is not dating. My top priorities are God, my kids, and helping women. No, this isn’t always easy, but if there is something you have listed as a priority, then keep it there and don’t get distracted!
Something Better, My Darling 