Do you ever get so caught up in crossing everything off your to-do list that you forget exactly why you're doing what you're doing?
So many of us tether our worth to how productive we are. Whether we’re conscious of doing this or not, this default mode can leave us unsatisfied. And if you’re like me, it will inevitably leave you totally cranky and not fun to be around.
Getting caught up in being productive is so easy that seeing an alternative to the hustle and the grind can seem impossible.
I get stuck in this cycle when I lose sight of my bigger values and commitments in life—when I focus on the daily obligations and responsibilities, or the next email coming in. I get stuck especially when I move through my day from a place of fear or lack.
This fear sometimes sounds like “I don’t have time to rest because I have to make up for lost time. I can rest once I’ve got it all figured out.”
Oh, our human brains are a blast, aren’t they?!
It’s so easy to get caught in the weeds of doing the doing that we forget to look up and ask ourselves exactly why we’re here doing it in the first place.
This is why being intentional is so important. It's the difference between filling our days with activity and taking deliberate action. And while the urgency of productivity can make it feel like you don't have time to pause and catch your breath, doing so is crucial to NOT rushing through your days.
While shifting gears is not easy, it IS simple.
Pause for a moment and ask yourself...
What do I want to create?
What do I want to have more of in my life?
Who do I want to be?
Let your answers be your anchor.
These are the commitments you can come back to over and over again when you notice yourself caught up in the loop of fear and lack. When you get stuck in the weeds.
Living life from your deeper commitments doesn’t necessarily make life 100% rosy, nor does it make your current obligations magically go away. But it does give you access to more mental clarity, ease, and joy.
What would it look like for you to plan the next day, month, or year NOT from a place of fear or lack, but from a place of possibility?
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