We give many reasons for not doing things – time pressure, too many responsibilities, lack of support, and several others. However, we may not be aware of a subtle underlying fact that if we are not inclined towards something, we will find it very difficult to do it. The way we spend our time tells us a lot about the way we are from within.

Preferences drive the way we utilise our time. What we don’t enjoy doing gets subordinated to what we thoroughly enjoy. And even in the face of challenges, we will make time and find a way to do what we like doing. The corollary is equally true, even with available time and opportunities, we will find a reason and excuses for not doing something we are not inclined towards.

Often fear creates an inclination to do something we otherwise avoid or procrastinate on. Our survival instinct prevails where the mind would otherwise not co-operate. How often we have changed our lifestyle choices and exercise routine only because our medical reports gave us a scare.

When we view some things as a duty, it evokes a strong inclination, energising us to spend time around our responsibility. The very constraints magically disappear when we lift ourselves to a higher-order thinking, and raise our purpose for doing something.

We are inclined to do things for someone we love, even if it may otherwise be something we don’t enjoy. On reflecting we will realise that our inclination does not come from what we are doing, but rather who we are doing it for. The deeper our love, the greater our enthusiasm for doing something.

If we find ourselves struggling to do something in spite of knowing we should, we need to realise that what we are lacking is an inclination to do it. And over time, when in our time of reflection, we are honest about the things we have been avoiding and are struggling to start or sustain, we will start understanding ourselves better, and realise the things we need to develop an inclination for.

Of course, there are times we are stretched. But the fact is that if we really want to do something, we can. So if we are making excuses for not doing something, it is not the time, ability, or opportunities we may be lacking. We may just be lacking the inclination.

(Picture-Fall colours in St.Andrews)