When I was first studying music, one teacher told me that music was what happened in the spaces between the notes. It was just as important to be creating space as it was to hit the perfect pitch, tone and expression. This thought changed the way I looked at the music, giving the spaces as much importance as the notes themselves.
Life is also like this. We need to give as much weight to the spaces between activities as we do the activities. If we allow those spaces to vanish, much of the beauty is lost. (If you don’t believe me, listen to Flight Of the Bumblebee a few times in a row).
We face overwhelm daily with all of the information that comes at us.. It is so tempting to keep on going forward with our never-ending to-do lists, never taking the breaks to give meaning to our tasks.
One important concept in getting to a more peaceful state is to slow down and create those periods of space. Here are some ways to accomplish this:
Creating Space At Work
Instead of immediately plunging headlong into a new task after completing one, take ten seconds to close your eyes and breathe, focusing on what you have just accomplished. This will give you a better sense of completion, plus allow you to recall what exactly you did during the day.
Creating Space At Home
Limit your task list. Choose what you will accomplish at home, and do no more. Take the extra time to either have time with yourself, play with the kids, or talk to your spouse. Use this time to give meaning to your usual pace of work.
Creating Space on Weekends
If at all possible, get away from the to-do list. Instead of spending the weekends cleaning, see if you can do it during the week; use the freed-up time to have fun with your family.
I find that if I consciously try to make space in my day, my day not only feels less frantic, but it also has more meaning. I feel like I have accomplished things instead of just having the time pass by in a supersonic blur.
