WHEN CONSIDERING MAKING a big change or starting a project, my first hurdle is getting over the overwhelm at the (long) path ahead of me. Maybe you’ve felt the same, and can recognize the signs.
(OMG) That’s a lot of hard work! This thought is either accompanied by mild panic or a sinking feeling in my stomach, depending on what the case might be. Your brain starts spouting things like this is too difficult, there’s no way I can do this, or it’s tooooooo much for me to handle.
Before you throw in the towel completely, consider this: everybody wants success….till they see what it takes.
If you want success, there’s no way around hard work, at least not long-term.
But if you’re willing to accept this, and need help getting past the overwhelm and make the most of your journey, here are 10 things I try to keep in mind and have found helpful:
1. Remind yourself time will pass anyway
Whether you train for that marathon, write that book or start a business…or not, the weeks, months and years will pass. If you don’t want time/life to pass YOU by, might as well get going.
2. Don’t look at it as a whole, all at once
Of course it will look big and impossible. The mountain always looks the biggest before you start climbing. Instead…
3. Break it down into the smallest steps possible
Keep down-sizing till it starts to feel doable (till that sinking feeling goes away).
4. See how others have done it (part 1)
You now have proof it is doable (therefore, not impossible). Look at their journeys to success, not just how they seemed to achieve it overnight. Most started out, struggled, learned, and conquered obstacles. They were where you are now at some point.
5. See how others have done it (part 2)
While your path will vary, you can see what steps they took and get ideas you can apply. If you’re writing a book, you can learn how others stayed focused and wrote everyday. If you want to start a restaurant, you can learn about how to test your market and get customers. In other words, you can be creative but don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
6. Focus only on the next few steps
The finish line or major milestone always seems far away. Try to focus only on the next few steps. When you get there, focus on the next few. This is the one I always struggle with, and remind myself to shift my focus.
7. Celebrate small wins
This is easy to disregard if you feel you’re not progressing as fast or far as you want (guilty here as well), but don’t fall into that trap. Small wins build confidence, and are part of enjoying the journey. They’re also an opportunity to reflect on what’s working (so you can do more of it).
8. Know that not everyone will do this
Hard work is intimidating, and many will give up before they even start. That thought crossed your might too, perhaps. But here you are, still plugging away. Remind yourself this is an advantage you have over everyone who chose not to do this. In running, it is said:
DFL (dead f%$king last) > DNF (did not finish) > DNS (did not start)
9. Have plan for when you hit bottom
Chances are good you’ll hit a low point (or several) during your journey. Failure, circumstances, or obligations will find a way to test you. You may question if it’s worth going to the gym all those hours, pushing away the fried chicken and reaching for the hummus. You may feel disheartened, and want to give up. While these feelings are almost guaranteed, you can use them to your advantage by having a game plan in place.
- Reflect on why you’re doing this in the first place. If your health is important to you and you need to lose those 30 lbs, then it’s worth it.
- See if you can have a go-to person/place where you feel ‘safe’ to discuss how you feel and can count on empathy and encouragement.
- Distance yourself from those who’re not supportive. They’re not what you need now (or ever).
- Consider putting uplifting reminders–a meaningful quote, a saying, a prayer, whatever works–over your desk or bathroom mirror. Or have a go-to book by your side.
10. Have patience
This might be the hardest step of all, because it requires faith–in yourself, in a higher power, in the universe, whatever you believe in. Things worth having require hard work, persistence and time. They have to be earned. If they didn’t, we’d all have what we want and life would be perfect. Keep doing your best, and have patience.
Easier said that done? Abso-friggin-lutely. But, to that I say it gets easier with practice.
If we let overwhelm stop us from starting anything, we’d never accomplish anything meaningful or worth having, and end up with a bucket of regrets down the road. We’re all capable of hard work, but regret? That sounds a lot harder.
So take charge, work for what you really want and don’t let overwhelm keep you from going for it.
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