By: Kerul Kassel
When you get an idea to do something, do you forge ahead with great gusto? That’s a great thing… if you’re ready for it. If you find that you’re struggling with more than just the logistics, strategy, or action plan, it’s quite possible that what you need to do is simply… wait! (”Impossible!”, you think?)
Waiting is the opposite of what we’ve been heavily conditioned into feeling comfortable with, isn’t it? And in the last decade, or even since the the millennium began, it seems that everything is moving much faster than it used to. Some newer tools (like express mail, fax machines, email, and voice-mail) developed to help us be more effective are also pressuring and overwhelming us to hurry up!
The desire and impatience to have everything “yesterday” makes us feel that if we aren’t making swift progress with something, we’re a failure.
So we push and strive and struggle to figure out what we think we need to do or know to achieve our end-result, not realizing that what could really help us is the clarity that comes from waiting.
Yes, windows of opportunity threaten to close, but if we haven’t allowed enough time for our idea to germinate, or our decision to “marinate”, we’ll probably end up with a lot of frustration and wasted effort (and possibly expense). You may have a few unhappy or embarrassing examples from your own life that illustrate this point!
Often, when we’re waiting for our ideas to gel or our choices to be more apparent, there’s a lot of internal activity going on that we don’t recognize, but is essential.
Of course, this isn’t an excuse to do nothing! It’s likely you know what you’re ready to do but are simply putting off, versus what you’re actively struggling to do and not making progress with.
But waiting is hard! We’ve been so well trained that it’s uncomfortable to even consider waiting! Here are a few waiting strategies that may make it easier:
1. Let off steam. The pressure you’re feeling probably isn’t helping your creativity or forward movement. If it’s not something that’s urgent, but simply important, letting go of the pressure you’re putting on yourself can help immensely.
2. Journal. Simply sit down with a notebook or in front of a computer and write about your challenge or idea. Regularly!
3. Access resources. When you surround yourself with resources (information, people, support - including a coach!) that pertain to what you’re trying to make progress with your path may become more easily apparent.
4. Engage in a breakthrough activity. The Breakout Principle, a book by Herbert Benson and William Proctor, is a superbly helpful book that explains how you can easily access the inner state that allows you to solve the unsolvable, finish that project, or make a decision that’s sound.
I’d love to hear from you with your thoughts about and experiences with this idea, if you’d care to share them with me.
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Copyright 2006, New Leaf Systems.com
About the Author
Interested in finding out more? Check out www.newleafsystems.com, or email kerul@newleafsystems.com Kerul Kassel New Leaf Systems Procrastinating again? Let me know - because I can help! Coaching, workshops, and presentations to cultivate success, enhance satisfaction, improve productivity, and foster potential. Member: National Speakers Association, International Coach Federation www.newleafsystems.com 407-957-1494 (fax) 407-957-4814 Receive up to a dozen fun assessments free when you sign up for my monthly ezine. Click here: www.cartville.com/app/join.asp?MerchantID=32099