I ran across an article a few months back that I now think is so important in my life that I re-read it every week. Even without the pandemic and its continuing strain on our energy level, the difficulty of finding time to do our most important projects is difficult.
I’m sure you’ve heard of all the research that talks about how we respond to the “urgent” more than the “important.” We feel the urge to take care of those emails that came in an hour ago instead of working on a project that we know is important, but will take us several weeks or months to finish. Dwight D. Eisenhower summed the problem up well:
“I have two kinds of problems: the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Now, there’s even an “Eisenhower principle” teaches us how to give attention to the most important things.
To make the challenge worse, we love to cross things off our to-do list because of that immediate dopamine rush we get. So we’re constantly giving in to that urge to complete the small things instead of lean into the big things. It’s pretty easy to understand why we feel like we never get the most important things done.
But here’s what changed for me recently.
Too often, I am waiting for that day, week, or period of time in which all the loose ends are tied up, I have the house to myself, and I’m really feeling the muse. “That,” I tell myself, “is when I’m going to start this big project or compose this new piece.”
But here’s what C. S. Lewis said about this way back in World War II:
“We are always falling in love or quarreling, looking for jobs or fearing to lose them, getting ill and recovering, following public affairs. If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.”
C. S. Lewis
Did you catch that? Favorable conditions never come.
Maybe that sounds depressing. At first glance, I felt a little disappointed about that too. But reading it actually helped me get to this place where I could let myself off the hook. There is no perfect time, so I can stop waiting for it. I can stop trying to make the perfect moment happen. I can stop being disappointed when it doesn’t happen. And I now I know what I have to do.
I just have to start. I just have to keep going. And I just have to work at it a little at a time.
Because favorable conditions never come. But that’s good because it means I’m alive, I’m living a life, and all kinds of events are happening. That’s a good thing, yes?
What do you think?
Thank you Wendy
That is a really great thought – and really quite liberating – sort of don’t just leave it hanging over your head – just get on with it even if it is just a little at a time – at least you will have started.
Thank you so much.
Love and blessings
Melody
That’s brilliant. Sums me up sometimes. Will be linking this article to my website …. when I’ve finally set it up properly!!! (I hope that’s ok). Thank you!
Glad it’s helpful, Lucy! Yes, feel free to link! Links are always appreciated.
Well summarized, Melody. Thanks for commenting!
Great article, Wendy! I read the one by Cal Newport also, and I think I’ll have to investigate his writings further. I’m always telling my students who struggle with practice time that you will never have the time to practice–you have to make the time! I believe I’ll have to share this article with them, also. Love your music and your website!
Love this! Don’t lose focus because of the tyranny of the urgent….
🥰This is so perfect in every aspect of life! Don’t procrastinate, don’t make excuses, don’t blame others, just forge ahead and do ti!
I love C.S. And I often think of the title of one of his books, “Till We Have Faces” especially when I see old friends again, and I think, “what did we do for fellowship, comraderie, and validation as musicians while we waited for this scourge to be over?” Phone calls, texts and emails, even zoom helped to an extent. but nothing was quite the same is the platter chatter over lunch or the real hugs that said, we’re all still okay.
Thanks Wendy, for your wise thoughts. Here’s another quote to ponder:
“Music stirs our hearts and engages our souls in ways we can’t describe. When this happens, we are taken beyond our earthly banishment back to the divine melody Adam knew when he sang with the angels, when he was whole in God before his exile.” Saint Hildegard of Bingen, 12th century mystic, healer and musician.
Oh wow! I needed to hear this…been waiting until I get my house decluttered before starting my blog and planning for my fall piano schedule. Thanks for all you do to help us, Wendy!
Those two ideas are so beautifully and powerfully put together. I have had to remind myself periodically that perfect opportunities almost never exist in order to get myself going on XYZ project, but coupling that idea with focusing on important and not just urgent things will have me mentally munching on that today. Thank you for sharing!
True. If we are always waiting for the perfect time…. It never comes- unless we change our expectations and realize that we are given THIS moment. I struggle to live in the here and now- always planning, checking off my lists…. So I’m learning to just do that thing the Holy Spirit is prompting me to do! So much more fulfilling.
Favorable conditions never come. I agree! Thanks for these words, Wendy!
Great quote Wendy – thank you – I love CS Lewis! Also I constantly remember: “The journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step.” (Not Lewis!)
Thank you. I’m a vocalist and experienced *severe* dysphonia when my daughter was born. Though I’ve regained enough use to sing a Mass,18 months later I feel like I’m stuck waiting for conditions that will allow for daily practice so I can rebuild my instrument. When the baby’s up I have to be watching her and when she’s asleep I can’t sing “for real” – any resonant sound wakes her immediately. I’ve been waiting for a sound-proof room at home that is promised but not materializing. I’ve asked at church to learn if there’s a space I could use, but there’s nothing available given the sound level I produce. Favorable conditions never come. Maybe Baby is just going to have to get used to Mama singing while she amuses herself…. Thank you.
Boy did I need to hear this! Thank you, Wendy for sharing these thoughts from both C.S. Lewis and Eisenhower. It just hits the nail on the head ( pardon the cliche). I am continually doing exactly that; taking care of the urgent, crossing items off the “to-do” list, and avoiding the big nagging issues and projects that I truly want to take care of and finish.
Hi Angela,
I feel for you. When you are dealing with young children, especially challenging ones, it’s all the more difficult and frustrating. I remember those years well and I think that mental shift you are considering…”Maybe Baby is just going to have to get used to Mama singing while she amuses herself” is a good first step to finding something that works. But it’s so hard, I know and I just want you to know that I’m thinking of you now!
My first time to post comment. All I can say now is, “wonderful”. I couldn’t disagree. Thanks a lot.
So ironic that you posted this today! Just this morning I was telling myself that I needed to designate a specific time at least once a week to compose or write – two activities that I really want to do, but always end up pushing to the bottom of my list! This was just that kick in the pants I needed to make me follow through with my plan! Thanks for all you do and all that you share with us, Wendy!
Thanks, Wendy! Boy is this ever true. I just lost one of my closest friends. She was one of the most giving and loving people I have known. However, she was waiting for those special moments to do all the things she didn’t have time or money for and now she’s gone. So CS Lewis’s quote is yet another reminder. NOW is the time.
Wendy,
You really hit my right on the button! This was the perfect time for that advice!
Thank you!
Sally
Agree!
Amen!! So true. It reminded me of a grid I’ve seen that I really should actually put into use – you draw a large square, then put a line down the middle of it and another across the middle, dividing it into 4 smaller squares. Above the top left square you write ” Urgent”, then above the top right square you write “Not urgent”. On the left side, you write “Important” beside the top square and below it next to the bottom square you write “Not important”. Then you sort all your activities into their proper square. Someday, when the perfect time arrives for me to get super strategic again, I’m going to do that…
I think the quotes above are brilliant, as is your article. Bookmarking this one to return to when I need inspiration!
Thank you Brother Clive and you, Wendy, for gifting us with this quote! So important in this day of waiting
for perfect times!
Hi, Looking for the zip binding tool you spoke about in one of your blogs. Really need it! Thanks ,
Jaffa Eljas
Indeed!
The favourable condition to do the other thing never comes.
But the favourable condition to do the thing in front of us is here!
I am in Sydney Australia. The kids are on holidays. I was expecting a favourable condition of sending them off for playdates and having long days to do some craft.
Then we went into lockdown. I have to chase my kids around! The conditions for a clear head and craft have not come.
But the favourable conditions for long walks with the kids, bike rides, games and craft with them are here!
I am not good at appreciating the current favourable conditions. So this passage from this wonderful man is worth bearing in mind. Thanks.
I needed to hear that. Thank you, Wendy! Not only do you bring us fantastic music, but you enrich our lives with your wisdom. Priceless!
What a beautiful example of “favourable condition to do the thing in front of us is here!” I love that, Sushila! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jaffa,
I think you might be referring to this: https://composecreate.com/preserve-printed-music/