Earlier this week I met a friend for a mid-day Vietnamese iced-coffee and walk around the block. Admittedly, I was a little less perky than usual and a tad-bit cranky. Not because I was suffering from caffeine withdrawal, but because I am plum tired!
This summer has not been stereotypically slow for me; at the moment, I am working on several time-sensitive projects with back-to-back imminent deadlines and gearing up for a busy month of speaking engagements. Oh, and did I mention I’m also overhauling my business?!
The night before (or it might be more accurate to say the morning of) our afternoon stroll, I went to bed at 1:30am; the night before that was a more reasonable bedtime (11:30pm), but I was up at 5:45am. This erratic pattern has unfortunately become my new norm the last couple of months, which isn’t too attractive when I really need (and crave) 7-8 hours of sleep a night.
When I shared my whacky schedule and why I was fatigued, what my friend, who works in institutional sales, said stopped me mid sip: “…you need to accept that there is not enough time to get everything done…”
If the coffee didn’t jolt me “awake,” that statement certainly did! Even if I wasn’t operating on all cylinders, I was alert enough to know his words, which were a paraphrase of one of the leading sales training gurus, Brian Tracy, held pearls of wisdom beyond time management.
And I wondered…
What if we dared to get real and admit there are times when there simply isn’t enough money to meet our needs?
What do you do when you’ve done all the right things, but all your accounts are zero or, God forbid, less than zero? In some of the circles in which I travel, it is almost sacrilegious to explore this question and the sub-questions it raises.
The query defies the belief in infinite abundance…or does it?
I believe a larger disservice is done when we don’t give ourselves permission to ponder: “What Do You Do When There Isn’t Enough?” Because let’s face it, we all experience periods of time when there isn’t enough of something we need, whether it is time, money, faith, confidence, self-esteem, etc.
If we accept that there will be moments when our current demands exceed our current capacity, then that creates the necessary space required to focus on the key element of the question – “What do you do?”
Here’s what I suggest:
1) Admit the reality (even if just to yourself)…and then adjust
Seems so obvious, right? But when more is required of you than you have to give, something has to give. You have to say “no” to something you previously said “yes” to. Ironically, what may start off as a temporary adjustment may lead to permanent, more beneficial changes.
2) Ask for help
Need I say more? We could probably all use a refresher course in asking for help…from the right people!
3) Don’t lose hope or focus
It sounds so cliché, I know, but hold onto the proverb, “this too shall pass.” Really. “Not enough” does eventually morph into enough and sometimes even more than enough. Plus, you often gain the most insight when you lean into the gap, which is a counter-intuitive choice to the natural inclination to get mad and resist whatever is bringing about the – “What Do You Do When There Isn’t Enough? – question in the first place.
These are my suggestions, what are yours?
p.s. it is almost time to get out of the red and back to black? If you have debt, you’re going to want to join us. Click here to get on the list to learn more about a new program launching in September.
Jacquette, this article is on target. Often times I find myself scurring to get things done and then lose focus and hope when I cannot complete them. Losing focus and hope have always been two major ingredients that have created stress in my life. As an independent artist I am my own CEO and now make resonable choices and complete the tasks I have defined as important. If I have a deadline I know I cannot meet I negotiate with the other parties. Sure, this doesn’t always work, but I know I am working towards being diligent and keeping my word (to myself and others.) More importantly, the quality of my life has improved; I actually see my friends and spend quality time with them. Thanks for your timely article.
@ M.Sanchez – Renegotiating commitments is something that I, too, am learning. But it is what enables me to show up and be fully present…and more relaxed! Thanks for commenting.
Hey, Jacquette, love the post! Plus, so timely, I’m doing a presentation on work-life balance. Yes, it is hard to admit that sometimes you just don’t have money or money flow to do all you want or even to continue to lead the lifestyle you are use to. I still struggle with this “new” reality for me but it is getting easier since I do continue to have faith that the money will flow consistently my way in the very near future!
@ Bonnie – Thanks! I love your reference to “flow.” Because that really is what it is, right?
Thanks for this inspiring article. There are really times that no matter how we try to get things done still we can’t make it happen the way we want them to happen. What matters is we don’t stop from there instead we keep on pushing and working for it.
Your postings are just so timely and really hone in on such universal themes…whether it is my attitude towards my money, the relationship I have with my physically challenged mother, and everything else in my life, being enough and living a life of worth is what I have always wanted for myself…thank you for making it abundantly clear that this journey is not just about the loose change we cash in every month, or the money we make and see evaporate before our eyes, but it is about who we want to be in our own lives and the lives of others…my funky relationship with money begins with my insides and the lies I tell myself…your messages help me to clarify further what my place is in my own life…thank you girl! And get some sleep! 🙂
@Ann – Thank you so much for taking the time share and for your transparency…awesome! I hope you realize that your candidness has just created the space for someone else to do the same in their own lives. There are many gems in your comment, but I really, really appreciate the mirror with these words: “…about who we want to be in our own lives and the lives of others.” Thank you for getting me -;o) And btw: I’ve been getting some more sleep!! HeHeHe
Dear Ms Timmons,
Thank you for the article. It is a question that I have been thinking about because of the particular circumstances I’ve found myself. However I have come to realize that God in HIS infinite mercy was teaching me a lesson in “spending too much money”. So, He decided to releave me of it for a time in order for me to get my act together.
@Hazel, Wow! Once you realized that was your lesson, a) how did you feel, and b) what was the very first thing you did to adjust your behavior with money? Many thanks for sharing and for be transparent!
This is such a comforting post, nice to know I am not the only one in a very similar situation. I do agree with you, no matter how many hours you stay awake for and how much coffee you drink, there is a limit to how much you can do! Thank you for the tips, I have tried to really tone things down lately and remain optimistic and things seem to going even better than before. Thank you for sharing- looking forward to reading your other posts!
The post is fantastic and I agree with all the points you made. I think your friend was right and you need to realise that there is not enough time in the day to get everything done. Be more realistic with your work and you could make more time to get sleep and do other things apart from work.