The Tapas - Yogic Heat - of Time Management

13. January 2010 by admin.

Since last Monday, the first “work day” of the new year, I’ve found myself floating through my work. . . attending to email, adjusting websites, working with my calendar and keeping a diligent eye on Facebook and other social media/marketing activity.  Though all work-related and important, none of these things are the tasks that most need my attention.

This fact has made me vaguely uncomfortable for the last week and a half.  While I know that it’s important to get organized and to enjoy getting back into the non-holiday swing of things, the time has come to light a fire under it and get focused.  In Yoga, this is referred to as tapas, which translates as heat, but can also be thought of as discipline or single-mindedness.

I love the non-judgmental, self-accepting ideals of Yoga.  They’ve helped me bring more calm and peace to my life.  AND, they can also sometimes lull me into the la-la land of spending too much time on things that aren’t the priority.  It’s that vague discomfort in the back of my head that increases when I get out of balance, and says, “Hey YOU!  Pay attention to the matter at hand here!  We’re not going to really be at peace until you address these tasks that you’re avoiding!”

And that’s where I am today.  Even though I’ve already grocery shopped, cleaned the kitchen and written a blog post (none of which are on the high priority list), it’s time to light a fire under it.  It’s time to give my most important tasks my undivided attention.  Through this, I know that I will find more peace, more ease, more connection to my best Self - the self that balances the work with the kinda-work.  That’s tapas in action.

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