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@ Anthony Accioly
2025-04-30 23:29:10
I can't give solid advice on finding balance, as it's something I haven't quite achieved myself. But with the benefit of a few extra years of age (not necessarily wisdom), what I can say is this: a lot of the weight we carry is in our own heads.
When business is bad or you're unemployed, how much time do you spend worrying about it instead of taking action, exercising, or enjoying quality time with your family? What about when you're ill? Or when a family member is?
As I approach my 40s, having "conquered" many of the things society expects from us, I've honestly grown tired of worrying, carrying burdens, constantly overcoming obstacles, and feeling the need to prove myself, whether to society or to myself.
It's funny. I have a feeling the answer doesn’t lie in time management or prioritisation. It's about letting go of the weight you carry, living in the moment, and making a conscious effort to be light-hearted, joyful, and accepting of your nature.
I saw this video years ago and found it impressive:
https://youtube.com/shorts/vfFwmBXB3Ds
Nowadays, I interpret it very differently. Where I once saw time management and granularity, I now see fluidity, self-acceptance, and an embrace of the nature of things. Yes, sometimes the jar is too full, so throw some sand away. But honestly, aside from our worries, the jar is rarely as full as it seems. As I stop trying to control every aspect of life, I notice the golf balls, pebbles, and sand find their own place. You're not in total control. This isn't a game of Tetris. Life still unfolds despite our limitations.
You will get into trouble again and again, and still, things work out. Life is a game that plays us, not the other way around. The only truly wasted time is the time spent trying to predict what’s to come or control what you can't. That includes juggling golf balls in the jar.
The more I make a conscious effort to be present and stop worrying, the easier life feels. Am I managing my time better? Maybe. Maybe not. But it's certainly easier to let priorities find me and be fully present, body and soul, than to keep up all the worrying I used to do.