The Golden Tool to Dissolve Overwhelm
Do you ever wake up with so much to do, you don't know where to start?
It's a new week, you roll out of bed with this strange mix of nerves and excitement for the day and week ahead. You want it to go really well.
You take a look at your to-do list and your head starts to swirl. Where to start? Almost all of it feels urgent. There are items that you are really excited to do. There are items that you don't really want to do, but are necessary for whatever reason. And then there's the stuff that you're not sure how to do. All of it seems to need to happen now.
Asteroids and Lemon Chiffon
When the feeling of urgency hits, most of us do either one of two things...jump or freeze. We either take that to-do list and just start randomly going for it (jump), or we click on the internet link that offers a slideshow of the 25 best and worst-dressed celebrities at the Golden Globe awards (freeze).
Problem is, jumping reinforces that haphazard, urgent feeling and feels reactionary- like in Asteroids (remember that video game) when you're just shooting at things coming at you. And while it's really fun to freeze your brain with mindless images of Cate Blanchett's lemon chiffon Armani gown (believe me, I'm there often), it's not doing much to forward your business plan.
Find The Golden Thread
Before you jump or freeze, see if you can instead find The Golden Thread...
When you are swirling with so much to do you don't know where to start, there is always a Golden Thread to pull on- one list item that pops out from all the others. The Golden Thread can be subtle, and it's easy to stampede over it when you're in a hurry. Take 30 seconds to take a "look-sy":
1) Lay your to-do list out in front of you in whatever it's current form.
2) Let go of any preconceived hierarchy of importance for the different items. Be willing to be surprised.3) Ask to know which item is The Golden Thread.
4) Notice which item pops out to you. Depending on your style, you'll recognize the Golden Thread in one of many ways- you may feel it in your gut or in your heart, you may "hear" which one it is, you may experience one of the items as "lighting up", etc. etc.. There are endless styles for this, so explore and see what happens.
Follow The Yellow Brick Road
The Golden Thread is your inner knowing giving you a signal as to what's really important. A way to cut through all the static when you're in overwhelm. Usually one Golden Thread leads to the next and the next. And it doesn't mean you can't plan out your schedule. It's just an additional tool to throw in there when you hit places of overwhelm. It may confirm what you already know, or it may reveal something you weren't noticing.
Thought, comments, questions? Let me know how it goes- I'd love to hear from you!