I’m staring out the window doing an impersonation of the famous The Thinker statue. Instead of writing the first blog post for my new website, I’m gazing at the squirrels playing in the yard.
Why? Because I’m overwhelmed.
There! I said it. Overwhelmed! A lot happens in my mind while watching squirrels play — overthinking the topic; questioning the tone; it has to be just right.
You might know the feeling – stuck.
Then, it hits me like an acorn to the head: How about if I “walk my own talk?”
You see, I coach and speak on getting unstuck, overcoming fear and thriving in transition. I know how to do this!
Feeling stuck can be challenging, especially for high-aspiring people. It’s like revving the car engine when its on a lift at the repair shop. The wheels spin but you aren’t going anywhere.
It doesn’t have to stay that way though.
Name it – Whatever is keeping you from moving forward has a name – overwhelm, fear, comfort, etc. Say it out loud. I’m serious. Even if it’s “I don’t know yet,” say it out loud.
The second I uttered “I’m overwhelmed” it felt as if a weight had lifted. Ok, I can do something about that.
Tame It – That thing that’s holding you back needs a reality check. Here’s where a dose of perspective is the cure. You have survived 100% of whatever life has thrown at you so far. True statement.
After I admitted I was overwhelmed, I searched for perspective. The result was simple – “I know how to do this!” True statement.
Reframe It – On the other side of what’s holding you back is something of significance, otherwise, you’d plow through without a care. What is it? Maybe it’s a dream career; a more fulfilling life; the exhilaration of skydiving; finishing a blog post.
Helping people break free from barriers and live to their full potential is what’s significant to me. There are a gazillion blog posts I could write on that topic. That’s why I was stuck.
Getting unstuck meant going to the next part of the process …
Take the Next Small Step – Take a small step forward. It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering. Change your LinkedIn profile header; walk for five minutes; watch a skydiving video; type one sentence about watching the squirrels.
Oh wow, the blog post is done. Welcome to the Sonder Haven community. I hope you’ll stick around for a long time to come.