I glanced at my to-do list this morning and realized that I was so far behind that for many of the items on the list, the ink was faded from age. Then I felt pressure—the pressure of not working hard enough, not being more disciplined, basically not being good enough.
So, I decided to take a nap … (at 9:30 a.m.) … But couldn’t sleep.
I felt the pressure of trying to avoid the pressure that would keep me from doing the work that would relieve it.
What an interesting neighborhood my mind is. Since I couldn’t avoid feeling the stress, I decided to take a closer look at my pressure thing. This is by no means a new study, but rather a refresher course – a sort of continuing education requirement for a certificate in “oh, now I get it.” I can feel pressure in various situations. For purposes of this message, there’s no need to list them all. Included are: not enough time, insufficient revenue, and inadequate control. Hmmm, maybe that is all of them.
I have total control over the pressure I feel
And, here is the simple truth that I need to relearn over and over — I have total control over the pressure I feel. As soon as I become self-aware enough to notice, my next step always requires the discipline of re-focusing my thoughts to remove the pressure. Sometimes it takes a while to build up the discipline.
As always, when I want to shift my thinking, I start asking questions. What is the bigger purpose of this massive pile of work I feel compelled to do? What would empower me and bring enthusiasm to the next task on my list? Have I worked out today? I know that always helps. What on the list would energize me the most at this moment, that I would be willing to do now? I teach this so I can model how the system works to move past the ineffectiveness of a pattern of pressure (feel a little pressure here).
Focus on the accomplishments
A good friend of ours, Henry, grew up on a dairy farm. He tells the story of his father assigning him the task of washing cow manure off the wall of the milk barn. Henry started washing but every time he looked up all he could see was another 100 feet of crappy fence. He began crying. His dad told him to turn around, so he only looked at what he had already washed. Suddenly, the insurmountable task came to a surprised completion when Henry’s butt hit the far wall. His whole focus had been on all he was accomplishing.
If, from time to time, you also feel the pressure building, you might stop for a few moments and ask: What do I need to be enthusiastic and empowered? What will energize me the most in the next hour? Where can I make the most contribution to my business, my family, or my team?
You may also want to follow Henry’s guidance – keep your back to any crap you facing and focus on your successes to create your pressure free day. Doing all of this worked for me today. This blog was task number 5 on my list. I’m giving myself another “Oh, now I get it” Certificate.
To receive your own certificate, shift your thoughts!
Gary
