Baby Steps
Baby steps is my middle name. I am a highly sensitive person who is easily overwhelmed by daunting tasks. Everyone’s definition of daunting is different, but I would venture to guess my tendency to avoid these tasks isn’t so uncommon.
Creating lofty tasks or goals doesn’t jive with how my mind works. My mind operates better when it’s focused on one step at a time, with the goal in the backdrop. The key for me is thoughtfully constructing steps to achieve the goal.
I ask myself questions. The 5 w’s we all learned in elementary school is a great place to start. Convincing yourself the task is worth the confrontation is the hardest part, but taking 5 minutes to approach the decision from a neutral perspective will be worth it in the end.
If you still decide the task or goal is not worth your time, at least you can say that you gave it thought. In doing so, you take the power away from the part of you who believes you’re lazy and give it to yourself. You are making a conscious decision to pass this task up, and can now go on with your day without negative inner dialogue.
If you decide that the task is worth the time and energy, great, let’s create a process to achieve the end goal. One thing I do is reflect on past goals I’ve achieved, and ask myself if there are any similarities between the two situations. Can I use any of the same tools? Can I contact the same people? Can I utilize the same first step?
Life is full of tough decisions and sacrifices. Taking time to consider outcomes from a neutral perspective can be a massively impactful tool. For some people it can seem like a huge step, like it did for me. Ultimately, by creating a process, I was able to quickly relieve the discomfort I felt from confronting my avoidance. This was a far better solution compared to the constant discomfort I felt from avoiding tasks, which reinforced negative beliefs about myself.
Going forward - create a habit of considering if this task or goal is worth your time and pat yourself on the back when you do, it’s empowering.
With Love,
Luke
