Do you ever get to the place in your work where you feel like there is too much to do, to remember, to track? I used to pride myself in being able to hold a lot at once — in my mind, for my clients, and about my work. As the complexity of our world increases almost geometrically and I find myself affected by the simple arithmetic progression of aging, I find that harder and harder to do.
I thought about this the other day in the context of launching a narrative coaching center with a team in Toronto and the first narrative design lab in Sydney. Add that to my full-time practice, research and writing projects, and a personal life — and it started to feel a bit much. I had the chance to talk with my friend and colleague Andrea J. Lee about my plans. In the course of doing so, she suggested that I might need to release my need to understand it all — and just do the next thing that needs doing. It was a wonderful insight that really hit home for me.
Enjoy the vista, but watch your feet
As I put this approach into practice the next day on a planning call with Toronto, there was a much greater sense of ease and grace in our conversation. What had become long lists of tasks quickly distilled into some immediate actions to take. It felt liberating. This is not about ticking lots of ‘to do’ boxes like a mouse running in a wheel; it’s about building toward something meaningful one step at a time. The era of seeing the whole picture, knowing everything about something, and planning the entire journey is over. Now, it is about doing what needs to be done next — and from there seeing what the world looks like and acting accordingly.
It’s like a good story. The magic is in the suspense of wondering what will happen next, and long arc of the plot often only becomes apparent in the end. I think our work is more and more like that. How about you? We take the steps we need to take in order to respond to and create what is emerging . . . and soon marvel at how far we have come and where we have arrived! Like stories, understanding is in retrospect, not a requirement for getting started.
If you feel stuck or daunted by all that needs to be done, ask yourself right now, “What’s the next thing that needs doing?”
Tags: business, choices, consciousness, learning, life, Mindfulness, narratives, stories, wisdom
July 29th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
David, this is a wise question to keep in mind when overwhelm sets in: “What’s the next thing that needs doing?” Thanks for sharing and congratulations on all of the passionate projects in your wake. And I love Andrea J. Lee’s work too. Here is her new link: http://wealthythoughtleader.com/
July 29th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Laurie, thanks. I have known Andrea for some time and worked with her on a couple of projects, AND it was wonderful being at her WTL event in Vancouver earlier this year. It inspired me to take some of these next steps. It was in the wake of that event that she offered me this provocative feedback and invitation. Here’s to a life that is truly filled with authentic ease and grace…
July 30th, 2011 at 7:44 am
David, so great to hear that you have worked with Andrea. Her books have become my bible when it comes to the nuts and bolts of running a coaching business. I considered attending WTL but hope to do so next year. There are so many amazing conferences, programs and people. My allocations for professional development are easily spent! Yes, here’s to a life filled with grace, ease, and joy!