How a small sacrifice leads to huge rewards...
 
I've got a major 'Degree' in “to do” list person.  I have lots of lists.  I have lists of lists.  And they are long.  Typical Aries - good at starting projects, but never finishes.

As I work through a list, I first tackle the items that are urgent with im- mediate deadlines.  I then go after the items that I can finish easily and quickly.  I get a real buzz out of ticking off an item - and when I do a lot of these, it looks like I've accomplished a lot.  Occasionally, I will go after those items that I don't want to do, only because I know I should.  And very occasionally, I'll work on the items that I've been wanting to do for the past few years, but never got to them because the above items were not yet complete, but only now have decided to do them regardless.

Now, there's a problem with the order in which I tackle these tasks as any good time-management instructor will tell you.  I'm completing the urgent and easy-to-do items first, rather than spending any time of the life-changing big items.  I'm going after the immediate small pay-off (the little buzz I get when I check off an item) rather than investing in the big long-term rewards (those life changing items).  In financial terms, it means that I'm going after lots of pennies rather than the million dollar prize. 

Most of us are doing the same!  Instead of going after our true aims, we waste away our time busying ourselves with petty things.  It gives us an excuse for not making any real effort towards our goals - "Oh, I didn't have time to go to the save-the-world rally.  I was busy knitting a pink sweater for my pooch."
So check, are you making time in your day for the big stuff with the big rewards?  Is any of your time being wasted on small stuff?  Are you making any excuses?

As we simplify our lives and begin working on the big stuff, we start to see the return and we begin to get the pay off.  But you have to sacrifice the small payoffs first.  Are you willing to do that?
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Ross Galán, NLP Spiritual Life Coach
at the Spiritual Life Coaching School