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Balancing the World

April 2, 2014

By Tracy Leonard
Contributing Writer

The challenges and complexity we face in our personal lives and relationships, in our families, in our professional lives, and in our organizations are of a different order of magnitude.

One of the greatest challenges faced by most people, regardless of their role, is finding life balance. People tend to focus so much on work and other pressing activities that the relationships and activities they really treasure the most end up getting pushed aside. They end up becoming addicted to urgency.

Instead of becoming a slave to the demands of a fast-paced society, we need to take time to think about what matters most to us (our vision, our passion), and then use this criteria to creatively decide how to organize our lives to be in harmony with our priorities and to create the life balance we desire. This can take some incredible discipline, but it is possible. It’s amazing what can be done when we focus our hearts and minds upon what truly matters and then live with integrity to do it.

Within the past year or so, I unfortunately have been driven by these urgent agendas and I’ve somewhat failed to recognize, organize and execute my life around my most important priorities. Professionally, I have been blessed with many wonderful opportunities. Coupled with my role as a Program Manager, and most recently a Rural Health Network Director, I serve on many advisory boards and committees. I also volunteer my time working with the IHC Mystery Players and with various community-related projects. In addition, since the fall, I have been pursuing my Master’s Degree, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2015. Life sure has been exciting and busy!

Certainly, all of the above have presented phenomenal opportunities to grow, learn and give-back. I’ve accepted those roles and am giving it my best. They have tapped into me physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. I have grown and I’ve seen others grow through these experiences; however, what I’ve learned is that I don’t know how to say no!

Because of my commitment and passion for my job, those I work with, and my community, I consistently say yes; however, in the midst of serving my community and organization, as well as going back to school, I’ve sadly realized that I’ve neglected to nourish my role as daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. I’ve occasionally missed family gathers, dinners, soccer games or dance recitals because I’m working late or busy writing a paper for school. At times, I’ve even neglected to maintain or enhance my health, and unfortunately, I’ve tended to abandon the things in life that have grounded me spiritually.

In order to attend classes in the evenings or on Saturdays, and to keep up with the academic coursework, I gave up the time I was spending with the Women of Grace in my community. I cut back on writing for the North Country Catholic, and for the first time in about ten years, I didn’t travel to Washington, D.C. this year with the teens of our Diocese for the March for Life.

My academic schedule and work responsibilities have complicated my ability to get away, and to only make things worse, I rarely spend enough quite time in prayer or reflection because I’m too busy thinking about the countless things on my “To Do” list.

The question of where and how do I find the balance I need and desire resounds in my mind.

Often times I’m told “Tracy, you’re always so busy.” or “You look so tired.” or “We didn’t ask you to join us because we knew you’d be working.” The people who matter most to me have sadly asked to be penciled into my schedule so they can see or spend time with me.

Terribly saddened by the feelings evoked from such comments, I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on how to best bring focus to my life. I’ve come to the conclusion that I simply need to decide what matters most to me… my highest values.

This has been a challenge because my involvement with all the things previously mentioned bring me joy, fulfillment and happiness. They inspire me to take action and they are helping me to truly make a difference, yet I recognize the need to slow down, to re-prioritize, and to realize that some of my current commitments are short-term activities that require focus for a certain duration of my time (i.e. my Master’s program). I have also come to the realization that I need to carve out some time to think and pray in order that I may better understand and execute my vision and mission.

Again, the key here is to keep focused on my highest priorities, or as Stephen Covey would say, “I need to put the big rocks first.” If I first fill my bowl with pebbles, and then try to put in my big rocks, there will be no room left.

By determining what is most important in my life and then making decisions based on those very important criteria, my big rocks will fit! I, just like you, have the power to make such choices and truly become the creative force in my own life. According to Covey, “with a burning “yes” around your highest priorities, you can easily say “no” to things that are urgent, but not important. As a result you can offer a smiling, cheerful, guilt-free “no!””.

Ultimately, through self-reflection, we can shape who we are and what we do with our time and talents to influence our organization, our community, our family and society. We need to live these principles at school, home and work.

If anything is to be learned, it is the amazing idea of how impactful small adjustments in one’s life can have such huge consequences or rewards. The question is- as you attempt to balance the world, are you willing to make small changes that can bring such big results?

What are your big rocks, and how will you place them into your bowl of life?

leonard

Tracy Leonard is shown with her parents, Charlie and Diane Leonard of Watertown, two of the main priorities of her life.

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