Life Lessons on Two Wheels (Part Six) "Overcoming This Common Problem Is a Game (Life) Changer."

Recently, I've been challenged to think about the pace of my life.

I mentioned last time that during our weekend of day trips, 1200km on the motorcycle, we counted over ten drivers who cut us off or pulled out in front of us...and while I enjoy practicing my emergency braking as much as the next guy, six or seven of those were closer than I liked for sure.

One guy turned left in front of us and then pulled into the next gas station just down the road. Now was that worth the risk of taking us out? Apparently so.

But the truth is people are in a rush...a lot.

Hey, I get it. People are busy...just ask them. "Hey, how are you doing?" "Oh man, I'm so busy!"

And that's the problem. Well, it's a sign of a problem anyway.

If you struggle with being too busy, you're not alone that's for sure. In fact, you fit right in. But being busy is not all it's cracked up to be.

What is being busy?

It's having a daily "to do" list that is impossible to complete.

It's not having any margin...in other words you rush from one thing to another, and usually running late.

It's doing a lot of stuff, but with nothing to show for all your effort.

Sound familiar?

This is why we enjoy the motorcycle so much I think. When we're on the road, we are away from screens, phones, from text messages and knocks at the door.

We don't listen to music either. We have in-helmet mics so we can talk with one another, but even then, we don't talk all the time. (If it's quiet for too long, I ensure Kathy hasn't fallen asleep, which has happened).

Yup, being on the bike is our way of not being busy...other than trying to ensure other drivers don't kill us.

Eugene Peterson suggests two reasons why we choose to be so busy.

1) We are vain. We want to appear important. Significant. What better way than to be busy? The hours, heavy demands, crowded schedule are proof to ourselves - and to all who will notice - that we are important.

2) We are lazy. We let others decide what we will do instead of resolutely deciding for ourselves. By abdicating the work of deciding and directing, establishing values and setting goals, other people do it for us.

Yikes!

Does that hit a little close to home?

Yeah, it does for me too.

So Peterson and the motorcycle remind me that I need to do the hard work of deciding ahead of time how I will live my life...the priorities I will focus on and the values that will direct my decisions and my choices.

My mentor Keith taught me that a conviction, is, "Making a decision, about a decision, before you ever have to make the decision."

In other words, decide now how you will live later. It may take some work up front, but the payoff is, you won't be living in directionless chaos.

The bike is calling...gotta go.

But if you're stuck and want some help, you can check out my book, Vantage Point where I tackle what it takes to live a life of meaning and purpose.

Download your free chapter of "Vantage Point: Five Perspectives to Live a Better Story" Click here Vantage Point

Or book a call with me...let's chat.