balancing life's obligations

[inconditus]

I'm not the best at multitasking, I get stuck on one thing and everything else in my life seems obsolete. There are times when this is awesome; however, in the grander scheme it drives me and my husband batty.

The biggest problem is that I can't juggle spirituality and work, or really anything else. It seems that the moment anything else comes into my mental space, it's a slippery slope until one day I realize that I no longer meditate, do yoga (er attempt) or focus on Spirit/Source at all.

I just started a new job as an insurance broker-at the moment I am studying to take the licensing exam. The reason I took the job is because it's completely flexible; however, it seems that the more I am left to my own demise the harder it is to stay on track.

Eventually the goal is to have some sort of system to be able to actively work on enlightenment and my career goals... but it seems that no matter how much I try to schedule, make lists and try to stay on track it just doesn't work. I either manage my day based on my schedule and don't "feel" it, the time that I set aside for spiritual growth is luke warm, I spend all my time doing work related things, or at the moment I become overwhelmed and spend my time sleeping, watching house hunters, feeling in a rut, and not doing anything.

How can I change my mindset to be able to be able to do this? Or is it impossible to manage two conflicting, it seems, goals?

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by inconditus

I'm not the best at multitasking, I get stuck on one thing and everything else in my life seems obsolete. There are times when this is awesome; however, in the grander scheme it drives me and my husband batty.

The biggest problem is that I can't juggle spirituality and work, or really anything else. It seems that the moment anything else comes into my mental space, it's a slippery slope until one day I realize that I no longer meditate, do yoga (er attempt) or focus on Spirit/Source at all.

Do you see spirituality as something that requires you to not be part of life?

I just started a new job as an insurance broker-at the moment I am studying to take the licensing exam. The reason I took the job is because it's completely flexible; however, it seems that the more I am left to my own demise the harder it is to stay on track.

Eventually the goal is to have some sort of system to be able to actively work on enlightenment and my career goals... but it seems that no matter how much I try to schedule, make lists and try to stay on track it just doesn't work. I either manage my day based on my schedule and don't "feel" it, the time that I set aside for spiritual growth is luke warm, I spend all my time doing work related things, or at the moment I become overwhelmed and spend my time sleeping, watching house hunters, feeling in a rut, and not doing anything.

So you have time for house hunters and not doing anything and complain about ignoring what you term as working on enlightenment.

How can I change my mindset to be able to be able to do this? Or is it impossible to manage two conflicting, it seems, goals?

How come you say "it seems" like they are conflicting goals?

[CindyCaldy]

Dear Aya - (I think that was your name. I can't see it in your post right now)

I totally understand where you're coming from, as I used to be in your shoes. However, over time I have learned/made the following changes and maybe something here will resonate with you.

First, forget about multitasking. It doesn't work. I've personally come to this conclusion, and ironically heard that very statement on this morning's Today Show. Others seem to take great pride in doing it and it seems to get more press than this morning's Today Show, but it really isn't possible to focus on multiple tasks and do them justice (unless they are like carrying a baby and getting a gallon of milk out of the fridge). My husband does behavioral testing and through him I know that some of us are naturally more scattered (like him) and some of us have the ability to focus on tasks (like me)

I also used to 'beat up on myself' for not getting everything done (which it never was), and got tired to doing this and always feeling defeated. I decided to only pat myself on the back for the things I did get done, and tomorrow's another day for tomorrow's tasks. It sure makes life more pleasant, and I feel better about what I do get done.

Also, the fact you're thinking about wanting to work other things into your life is a good and necessary first step. Life often does get in the way (so to speak), and that's the nudge we need when our soul is telling us that we miss yoga or a spiritual practice. So do what you can to work a little of each into your life -- at least to get started. Maybe it's signing up for a yoga class or reading something spiritual in the morning or before going to bed. Make it work for you. None of us is super human, so just do what you can with the time you have available. Studying for the insurance exam is a big commitment I would think, so praise yourself for making that commitment and know some free time will open up once you're through that.

Hope my few insights may be helpful, and I'd love to hear about your progresss!

Cindy

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by CindyCaldy

Life often does get in the way (so to speak), and that's the nudge we need when our soul is telling us that we miss yoga or a spiritual practice.

Life is never getting in our way. It's our need to do something we think will produce the ultimate happiness. That's what gets in our way. Once we drop that need, ironically we either get to do all the things we want to, or realize we are already doing the things we want to.

So do what you can to work a little of each into your life -- at least to get started. Maybe it's signing up for a yoga class or reading something spiritual in the morning or before going to bed. Make it work for you.

Making something work for you, is a form of making something work for you. Or rather struggling to fit a bunch of stuff to do into what you think is what you "should" be doing. Shift the need to make sure you are doing "spiritual" things, and you will notice you are doing spiritual things anyway. Does yoga really produce spiritual people? Or lots of meditation? Go hide in a mountain or something. Ignore life and what you decided to do and see how the path of complete "spiritual" practice feels.

[inconditus]

Originally Posted by wolfgang

Do you see spirituality as something that requires you to not be part of life?

So you have time for house hunters and not doing anything and complain about ignoring what you term as working on enlightenment.


How come you say "it seems" like they are conflicting goals?

I'm confused by your first question. Life is so much more than daily routines.

My heart tells me to do something different than what I am experiencing... So it creates conflict.

I can watch house hunters because it doesn't fall into any goal category. It's nothing, it's pointless and that pointlessness let's the action fall through the cracks of my anxiety.

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by inconditus

I'm confused by your first question. Life is so much more than daily routines.

"Do you see spirituality as something that requires you to not be part of life?"

Do you see spirituality as something that requires you do yoga or meditation, instead of being able to be spiritual in what ever you are doing?

A lot of spiritual practices are just other things to do, imo. There are some (me included, at times) that look at spiritual "practices" as a way to get away from real life. Which, actually is not very spiritual.

My heart tells me to do something different than what I am experiencing... So it creates conflict.

So the heart tells you that you aren't doing the right things, and conflicts come up? Is that the heart doing that?

I can watch house hunters because it doesn't fall into any goal category. It's nothing, it's pointless and that pointlessness let's the action fall through the cracks of my anxiety.

It seems you want to do more meditating or something other than this "non goal category". But it only seems like that because, you end up doing this "non goal" thing anyway. That is actually what you decide to do. I mean, if the other goals were important to you, the "non goals" activities would not take over. You would spend time in another direction.

ps. I am talking to myself about this too.

[inconditus]

"Do you see spirituality as something that requires you to not be part of life?"

Do you see spirituality as something that requires you do yoga or meditation, instead of being able to be spiritual in what ever you are doing?

Yes and no. No, because spirituality, enlightenment is nothing more than a choice. A choice to rid your life if negativity and only live by truth. Nothing more.

Yes, because it's a habit to keep a person focused, so that they don't coincidently slip into old habits and loose that state of consciousness. If a person can stay in a meditative state throughout the day with no effort or "down time" then practices are not needed for them. For me; however, I need to make a conscious effort.

So the heart tells you that you aren't doing the right things, and conflicts come up? Is that the heart doing that?

No. It's my head. It's my ego trying to preserve itself and me giving into it. It's a conflict between trusting what I KNOW is right and what I want to be right... or what is and is not possible.

It seems you want to do more meditating or something other than this "non goal category". But it only seems like that because, you end up doing this "non goal" thing anyway. That is actually what you decide to do. I mean, if the other goals were important to you, the "non goals" activities would not take over. You would spend time in another direction.

ps. I am talking to myself about this too.

Indeed.