Get a Grip!

Thought I would share what I posted on my personal blog this morning. Have a Marvelous MONDAY!

I started a new bible study this morning, called 'Getting a Grip, Finding Balance in Your Daily Life' by Bill Hybels. You know if something has the word BALANCE in the title I am immediately drawn to its contents. Balance in life is something I have a strong passion for, as I seek to find that in my every day life.

One of the things that has become a habit for me is to 'dump my bucket' every Sunday. This dump is not as BIG as the dump I referred to a week ago. This is strictly in regards to EVERYTHING happening in the upcoming week. My dumping usually takes about 2 hours and to be honest, I believe it is probably the most effective 2 hours of my week. By that I mean, I believe our household and my business wouldn't run close to a well, oiled machine as possible without it.

Those 2 hours are spent taking a look at the entire week and includes everything from business to dos and appointments, an exercise schedule, meals, grocery list, household chores, appointments, kids activities and transportation schedules, personal time, family time, date nights. etc. My family laughs that I don't include my bathroom breaks. When I mean, EVERYTHING, I mean EVERYTHING!

On one large legal pad of paper, the week gets dumped, planned, and programed with every intention of matching up to the larger goals we set at the beginning of the year, only in a bite size chunk. Now please note, that things come up at the last minute and we ARE flexible to change. A great example is the unexpected 2 hour delay this morning that no one realized until we were dressed and ready to walk out the door.

Without that 2 hour dump on Sunday, I would and have floundered through the week taking it as it came and looking back wondering if I accomplished anything at all.

I was blessed this early this morning during my 'quiet time' to be reaffirmed in God character. He is a God of order, plan, and purpose. Just take a look at the first chapter in Genesis.

Day 1. Light and Darkness
Day 2. Sky, Land, and Water
Day 3. Plants and Trees
Day 4. Birds and Sea Creatures
Day 5. Land Animals
Day 6. Man
Day 7. Rest

There is absolute order, planning, and purpose in the order that things were created. Think about creating the animals before there was vegetation to live on. Imagine trying to create everything and inspect it without light? Where would you put the plants and trees without land and water? May be He even 'dumped His bucket' the week before creation, laying out His master plan of what EVERY day would consist of.

The last exercise I did was rate myself on a scale of 1 to 10. 10 being excellent and 1 being poor. How would I rate each area of my life and how much time do I commit to each area.

Career. Family. Physical Health. Hobbies. Spiritual Growth. Friendships.

Then ask yourself how much time do you spend every week in each of those categories and any other areas you would like to add. Household Chores. Watching TV. Sleeping.

How did you do? I definitely saw room for improvement!

So try dumping your bucket and see what happens. I have been dumping my bucket for over a year now and WHAT a difference it makes! It makes me a better steward of my resources, time, talents, and gifts. Without it I have feelings of fear, panic, irritation, and spinning out of control. With it I have peace, calm, and productivity.

Try dumping your bucket today and let me know how it goes! Just hit the comment section below and leave your feedback.

Have a Marvelous Monday!