1. Is that true?
YES!! It’s like time is my enemy.

2. Can you absolutely know that it is true?
No. When something unpleasant is happening, there is more than enough time. Ok, same side of the story. It just isn’t right for me. But can I absolutely know that there is never enough time? Can I know that I would be happier if there was enough time? Mmmh… No. I can’t know that I would be happier. 

3. How do you react when you believe this thought?
I feel sooo upset. Angry. Punished. Like a loser. I never get it all done. Overwhelmed. And I treat the people in my life as a nuisance, a disturbance. Boy, yes! I’m short with them. I don’t take time to talk to them. I brush them off. Seeing them as time drainers or stealers. Yikes!

I’m treating myself really badly too. Seeing myself as a loser for not getting more done. Getting so angry when I look up from my desk and it’s already much later than I thought! My thyroid hurts, my face is tense. My shoulders too. Grrrr…

Punished? Mmh, interesting. Yeah, it’s like I get short-changed by the universe. "You? You don’t deserve more time! You are a time waster! You better shape up first before we give you any more time!"

Oooh, and then I envy others who seem to be so productive and accomplish a lot. Separation. I try to find flaws in them.

Hah, and I end up being frozen in upset and get even less done. Like I throw in the towel and give up. Why even try?

4. Who would you be without that thought?
l just took a deep breath. Wow – I would notice what’s around me. I lighten up. My tension loosens up immediately. I ease up. My negative self-talk melts. Yeah, I relax. The time issue loses importance. I almost giggle. Like "Boy, did I blow this out of proportion. Really wrapped up in a story." I come out of paralysis. Much better.

Turnarounds
There is always enough time.
Ok, I am not quite believing this turnaround, but I am definitely realizing that the original thought is not helping. Believing it, does not make me more productive. In fact, the opposite happens. So, it’s not a helpful thought to believe.

Now, let me try to actually go to the opposite.

- Well, there is always enough time to complain.
- There is always enough time to eat.
- There is always enough time to read email.

Hah! It’s all about priorities. Obviously, something else was more important. Or, secretely I don’t even want to get that stuff done. Mmmh, food for thought.