“Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.” ~Rodin
John Lennon said time you enjoyed wasting was not wasted. The same can be said for time you didn’t enjoy if you decide to find value in the experience of the moment.
It’s easy to do this retroactively—to look back and ascertain that a frustrating moment taught you patience, or a disappointing moment taught you humility. It’s a lot more difficult to ground yourself within a less than ideal moment and decide then to use it wisely; not to remember it wisely later, but actually do something with it right then.
One thing I like to do when I’m immersed within an experience that feels like a waste of time is ask myself: How can I make this valuable?
It might mean practicing mindfulness when I’m somewhere I’d rather not be, breathing deeply when I feel impatient, or learning something from a mistake that I can use to improve in the future.
If our thoughts shape our world, then we can decide every moment is valuable and then make it so.
Today if you come up against time that feels wasteful, ask yourself: How can I use this moment wisely?
Photo by EPi.Longo
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others do the same. She recently created the Breaking Barriers to Self-Care eCourse to help people honor their needs—so they can feel their best, be their best, and live their best possible life. If you’re ready to start thriving instead of merely surviving, you can learn more and get instant access here.
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