It is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow.
Aesop
Fl. C. 550 B.C.
Take a moment and think about your life. Are you getting all the things you want? If you’re like most people, the answer is no. There are probably some material things you’d like. Or you may be unhappy at work and want a better job. You might also want to improve the relationships in your life, or reduce your stress level by being in greater control of things. But for whatever reason, you’ve come to believe that these goals are out of your reach.
Here’s the real question: how valuable is it to acquire those things you want? How much time and energy would you devote to getting all you desire from life?
Would you devote two percent of your time to reaching those goals? Two percent seems like a small price to get all you want from life.
First, let’s get clear on how much two percent of your time is. It is slightly under 30 minutes a day: the length of one TV program. If you would devote just 30 minutes a day to self-improvement, you could literally change your life.
Here are some things you can achieve in 30 minutes a day. You could easily read one book a month. You could exercise, dramatically improving your physical condition. You could pursue a meditative practice like yoga or tai chi, which promote relaxation and reduce stress levels while toning the body. Or you might choose a form of exercise you can do while reading, giving you knowledge as well as physical benefits.
What results can you expect from reading one book a month? To be honest, for the first month, it won’t be much. But after a few months, if you’re selective about your reading material, you will have dramatically improved your knowledge. If you read about subjects related to your profession, you’ll increase your value in the workplace. If you select good books on life and living, you’ll learn ways to improve your attitude and outlook. And as you change your thinking, you change your life.
You can also spend time analyzing your life and setting new goals. Search for changes you need to make. Look for small improvements that will not only help you now, but will continue yielding benefits for the rest of your life.
It’s been said that the most important part of the day is the start, that how you start your day has a significant influence on how the day goes. Make it a ritual to start your day investing two percent of your time in yourself. Like most investments, the growth will seem slow at first, but over time, the benefits will compound.
If you truly want a brighter future, invest a small amount of time in yourself today. By investing just 2% of your time, you’ll reap compounded benefits for the rest of your life. It’s a small amount of time, but the rewards will be proportionately better than any other investment you can make.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves that we are underlings.
William Shakespeare
1564 – 1616
Copyright © 2014 John Chancellor