Who would have thought a pandemic could bring joy and personal growth? In this conversation with Lauren Heath, CPPS, we explore some of the surprising gifts that have come during the shutdown. As the owner of a pet-sitting business, Lauren has seen a dramatic drop in her business recently.
And ... she's also learning to make time for what really matters to her.
For far too many pet pros, life is a constant rush. No down time, no R&R. Just work, work, work until you fall over exhausted at the end of the day.
Lauren has wanted to build an online store for quite some time. She used this time to make it happen.
Are you familiar with the importance vs. urgency matrix? Most people spend far too too little time in the most meaningful quadrant--high importance, low urgency.
The important things in life are those that move you closer to your own personal goals, to creating a life with meaning and purpose. (There are many things that feel important because they matter to other people--and you care about those people--but in this framework, you're focused on what's meaningful to you.)
Urgent tasks have deadlines and due dates. Let's explore the quadrants:
- Low importance/low urgency. Netflix, anyone? Take a careful look at your self-soothing behaviors. Ones that light you up are valuable. Ones that numb you belong in this quadrant. If you spend a lot of time in this quadrant, ask yourself what changes you could make to feel more engaged. (Feel stuck? Let's talk.)
- Low importance/high urgency. These activities feel like you're checking things off a list. Answering emails and going to the grocery store need to be done in specific timeframe, but they don't make you feel inspired and alive or move you toward your personal goals.
- High importance/high urgency. Professional education often falls in this category. The activity feels meaningful and there's a timeframe in which it must be completed. The timeframe spurs action.
- High importance/low urgency. This quadrant is the one your heart longs for. Your dreams and inspirations live here. Your "someday" ideas. Because there's no deadline, no urgency, it's far too easy to let months and even years go by without taking action.But when you give yourself space and permission to prioritize these activities, you'll see ripple effects in every area of your life. You'll feel happier, more productive, more engaged, more alive.
What are you learning about yourself during this time?
Let me be clear ... there's no need to accomplish anything right now. Let go of expectations about the results. Simply ask yourself questions and listen deeply to the answers that arise. Here are a few to get you started:
- What would you like to have happen?
- What will having that do for you?
- How will you know when you have it?
- What will move you in that direction?
Give yourself the gift of time and space to explore what matters to you. It may not feel "productive," but I promise you it's the best possible use of your time.
If you'd like any support figuring out how to find more joy in your life, I'd be happy to help. Let's talk.
Links worth clicking
- Connect with Lauren on Facebook and Instagram
- Doorways for Women and Children, creating pathways out of homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault that lead to safe, stable and empowered lives. Lauren worked at Doorways in the past, and Colleen is a volunteer.