Happy Monday, or whatever Monday you choose.
Last week we discussed having an abundance of ideas. We continue on that theme this week. Just because an idea has merit does not mean you have to act on it at that very moment. It can be a challenging line to walk between recognizing opportunity and being able to take advantage of it. How do you go about clearing up your cluttered thoughts? On a walk yesterday, another idea came to me almost fully formed. I could not wait to get home and capture it. Usually, the rest of the day would be spent developing it and getting it ready to go. This day, I only did a mental data dump. I am a fan of pen and paper but feel free to use whatever medium floats your boat. Being scrupulously rational about the thought made me realize that I was not in a position to implement it right now, but it is one to develop and prioritize in the next few weeks.
But, and there is always a but - making changes requires you to die to your old ways. Having the discipline to do one thing at a time is indeed not my forte. Repeat incomplete project offender; guilty as charged. I have closed out many of them by not allowing myself to take on anything new without closing out or ending a prior project. A new idea is heady and exciting. After being intoxicated with a new idea, the old ideas are not as sexy. Do you find yourself running from shiny new thing to shiny new thing? Why is that? What is preventing you from finishing what you start? What is causing that mindset?
Digging in your heels can be tempting. Perhaps you are pronouncing judgment too early. Have you been playing the part of judge, jury, and executioner of the old ideas? Maybe you are holding on to beliefs that no longer serve you because you feel like a failure for not completing them. Don't be hard on yourself, instead be hard on the ideas. Take the time to honestly assess them and cut the mental clutter. You can ask yourself if the idea gets you closer to your goals. If not, snip snip with the mental scissors.
Do you want to make peace with yourself? Nobody likes to feel like a fool. However, unless you come to terms with your actions, you will be unable to grow. Are you ready to have an honest conversation with yourself? Are you talking yourself in circles and continuing to rationalize your behavior? There is no shame in asking for help. I am fortunate to have trusted friends who hold space for me to explore my thoughts. They ask challenging questions and help me to gain insight. If you do the work and start cleaning out the clutter, you may discover that you need to devise a new strategy. Don't be afraid to pivot into a new direction. Put those old thoughts up for a yard sale and reinvest in the new and improved you.
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