Take Time to Think

The greatest people from time to time avoid the company of others. Without exception all outstanding people spend a good deal of time in uninterrupted thought. They get right away, either in a room of their own and lock the door or walk up a hill where they can sit and quietly meditate. It is important that you spend a considerable amount of time alone every day contemplating, meditating, and listening to your inner voice. The problem is there are too many distractions in everyday life and it is very easy to come up with many excuses why we can’t take time to think. 

To solve this problem, make yourself a study "away from it all" even though it is only an attic or shed. Go to this "retreat" regularly. If you cannot do this, go high up some hill where you can sit alone. Try and dwell with yourself for a short time every day. Take with you that "listening" attitude, as though you were expecting to hear something. 

“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” 

                                                            - James Levin

My Story

Once I learned the art of goal setting and started listing the things I wanted to do, have, achieve, and become in my life, I didn’t make progress quickly simply because I wasn’t used to the kind of thinking involved with the goal-setting process and as a result, I spent little or no time (out of my leisure time) to think. Today, I realize one of the reasons why I didn't take time to think was simply because my goals where not written down. And as I mentioned before, in previous articles, there is no psychological commitment when our goals are not written down on paper. Moreover, if you are familiar with the goal-setting process you’ll agree with me that it is all about thinking: 

• Defining clearly and specifically what you want. 

• Thinking about the reasons why you want the goal.

• Thinking about all the things preventing you from achieving your goal—the obstacles you’ll inevitably meet on the way to achieving what you want. (Let me make a brief comment, many people stop here and fail to move on to doing the next activity, which is one of the reasons why they don’t achieve what they want!) And that is to….

• Think about the solutions to the problems you face and how to surmount the obstacles on your path. The truth is if you don’t ask your mind questions it will not give you the answers you need. But when you do ask it for solutions, you’ll begin to get new ideas literally anywhere, and anytime—it could be in a taxi, while watching something related or unrelated to your dream on TV, in a conversation,… ANYWHERE. If only you will become more disciplined with yourself and take time to think, preferably every day, you’ll do the seemingly impossible when they believe they can achieve what they want. 

Practice using solitude to do the following:

1. To put the piece of a problem together. You cannot solve a problem that is not clearly and specifically defined. Taking time to think in solitude will help you do this.

2. To work out solutions to the problems you face. I always say this over and over to myself each time I meet and obstacle or problem: For every problem there is a solution, and my perseverance will find it. 

3. To develop a clear plan of action that will help you get from where you are to where you want to be. 

4. To listen to your inner voice for guidance and direction. 

As often as possible and preferably every day you must work with it until you can sit in the silence for at least half an hour. You may say that you don't just have the time and that every hour is spoken for, but by taking time to think and listen to your inner voice, your load will be eased—you will see how best to complete your work without effort. 

The Bottom Line

You must resolve to set aside some time, preferably every day, to be completely by yourself. Perhaps early in the morning or late in the evening or during lunch, it doesn't matter when so long as your mind is fresh and free from distractions.

To Your Success,

Gerard L. Ndzebir