Treat #50
: Time Stretching
I am sure you have heard the expression: if you want something done, give it to the busiest person to do. Lately I have been learning to stretch to accommodate more actions as I am the one receiving lots to do. And the fun part is seeing that time stretches right along with me. Time stretching is the opposite of time borrowing (the subject of an earlier Treat).
A few weeks ago I had a day filled to capacity with things to do and I could not imagine how I would complete what I had on my plate. I chose to let go of imagining the impossible. Instead, I decided to focus on completing and staying present in each moment with what I was doing. I noticed each time I looked at the clock it was two hours earlier than I had thought. How could that be possible? Was I in a time warp? In a way, yes. Time was actually expanding to meet me as I let go of my natural tendency to hurry and complete things. And, as a bonus, instead of feeling drained from pushing myself, I had more energy, along with more time.
Sometimes I hear myself trying to predict what I can and can not do in the time I have. I start laughing as soon as I realize how ridiculous that is. Who do I think I am and how could I possibly know what will happen in the future?
Relaxing with what is expands the possibilities. I notice when I am in this natural flow of time, things happen on their own without me having to do much. Focusing on the next thing with all of my attention (without regard to time), makes room and time for all of it.
Near the end of the second day of working with a client this past week, I realized there were a significant number of files remaining to be processed. From a linear perspective, I looked at the probability of completing all the files in the remaining time and it seemed there was no chance of it happening. Knowing the power of intention and visualization, my client and I both set an intention to complete, and, find a way to handle these files that would give him the experience of completing. In the last half hour, the way to accomplish this showed up. We were both fully engaged and focused and moving with a clear intention towards completing. We finished the race with flying colors as time stretched to meet us in our intention. We used all the time we were being given and with ten minutes to walk to the hotel next door, get checked luggage and meet the car driving me to the airport, we still managed a few moments with the Chairman of the company who was in the office as we were leaving. Time kept opening doors for us to do what we needed to do, and I arrived at the car at my scheduled time of 4:00 PM.
As I drove off to the airport, I was in awe of how the impossible is manifested when I clearly see the potential outcome; being willing to expand into possibility, while doing what is in front of me.
Sinking all the way into time and letting go, allowed us to use every second we had. We chose to fully participate and time extended us the final sprint over the finish line, meeting us at our point of action and intention.
If you are experiencing a lot on your plate, order up a time stretch.
Martha Invitations
1. Pick something that you have been putting off because you don't have time. Close the door, turn off the phone and focus. You will be surprised at how simple and easy it is with your new sense of time.
2. The next time you hear yourself pretending to know what is going to happen in a given day, stop and say: erase, erase, erase. Then let time be on your side.
3. When you notice yourself backspacing on the key board, you can be sure you are slightly ahead of yourself. Backspace yourself into the moment.
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