Taking Action In Sacred Space – Part II

Focus Or Scattered – Where Do We Live?
I’m going to tell a truth that just might bruise many an ego for a few moments. Okay, here goes… We cannot perform multiple tasks at the same time, commonly known as multi-tasking! There I said it. I know. I know. I once was a queen reigning in the belief of the art of doing more than one thing simultaneously. I used to interview and hire people according to our illusionary cultural investment that we could perform and perfect tasks simultaneously. We’re going to cruise on to explore how our actions can be either accomplished within a focused, sacred space or whether we’re tripping off the insanity meter. It all hinges upon our thoughts and beliefs. It’s all up to us…

Here’s the best true description I can come up with for the definition of multi-tasking:

Multi-tasking is the ability to perform one task after another task, resulting in the completion of multiple different tasks within a day. Interruptions while performing a task that force our attention elsewhere will occur (fill in the blank) ______. (Occasionally, a few or several times a day, frequently)

Here’s the sanity factor. In the process of performing a variety of daily tasks, are those interruptions which divert our attention away from what we are presently doing needlessly self-inflicted or are they interruptions that we are positively in agreement with?

What does the needlessly self-inflicted multi-tasker look like?
Needlessly self-inflicted multi-taskers can best be described as those of us who stopped being the pilot of our life and gave everyone else the controls under false agreement with the belief that we’re a victim of circumstances, or that we’re indispensible and must be available at all times to whoever blows through the door. Either way, there is a factor of fear connected with this one. Continual self-inflicted multi-tasking fallout ends in resentment, exhaustion, anxiety, nervousness, forgetfulness, loosing stuff, constant mind talk, being unbalanced and ungrounded, feeling ill, etc.

What is the fear factor associated with needlessly self-inflicted multi-taskers?
We victims of circumstance usually hold a belief that if we cater to everyone’s needs and anticipate those needs, requests and interruptions, everyone will like us. We won’t say no, or our no is so weak that we can be easily talked out of it. We’re afraid that someone won’t approve of or love us if we don’t, so we falsely agree with the involvement. Fear of rejection. We usually end up complaining to ourselves and others about how someone takes advantage of us, yet we’re still there. We hold a false belief that we are helpless. We get blown about by the wind and can’t remember how to nurture ourselves to refuel and rejuvenate. We lack courage. The multi-tasking meter has blown a spring in the insanity range!

What does multi-tasking in positive agreement look like?
We multi-taskers who are in full positive agreement are operating in a more actively balanced state, calmly moving from one task to another with the understanding that there is a need for FOCUS, so we instantly scout out and remove anything that appears needless and is not a part of what we must concentrate on. We can firmly say no and mean it with a smile. We pace ourselves, and even during those periods where frequent multi-tasking episodes appear, we will ensure we take breaks to breathe and refresh ourselves with QUIET time – a few minutes of meditation, a brief walk or sit outdoors, lunch by ourselves, anything or anyplace where we can empty our minds of noise and get centered again. In other words, we know how to refuel and rejuvenate ourselves.

The trip side of the multi-tasker in positive agreement occurs when we mistakenly begin to adopt the superman or superwoman syndrome as a form of some drive for perfection or status. It could be a result of having fallen into a culturally driven competition with neighbors or peers or imposed upon in a work environment. This is where we mistakenly believe we can slide more tasks into an already busy day and handle it – losing the balanced pace and the essential periods of refreshment and refueling of the mind, body, and spirit. Danger! The multi-tasking meter has moved over to the insanity range. The plane will soon go into a tailspin!

Having stuffed too much into our daily life which largely includes chasing all the interruptions that automatically drag along with it, we’ve morphed ourselves into something rather inhuman. As a new acquaintance lovingly said to me, “We’re not machines. We’re organic.” (A great bumper sticker)

Imagine how good it would feel again to take the time to focus on sniffing out the best cantaloupe or fresh peach in the produce department without the interruption of the cell phone for starters. Got a clingy someone who needlessly interrupts you several times a day at work or at home? Think of the areas in your life where you can start reclaiming your space. Make a list and tackle them one at a time. Shouldn’t it be a relief to realize that we’re not robots, that we’re truly able to give our best only when we know we can fully focus our mind, body, and spirit on one thing at a time?

Our thoughts that guide us throughout the day backed by our belief system, positive or negative, that we choose to take on in our lives have everything to do with building our reality. The life we want is waiting for us the moment we wake up and FOCUS on what we want and how we want to live delightfully in our own sacred space.

Next month: Taking Action In Sacred Space – Part III – Living In Grace With Our Body

Affirmation for this month: Pace
Today, I practice the art of consciously attending to one thing at a time. Regulating my time with delegation, eliminating interference with places of quiet space, protects the well being of my mind, body, and spirit.

Live in beauty and be well - Triza Schultz

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