How excited do you feel when the ideas in your mind start to take shape in your life? One idea is spurred on by another. Soon you discover you have an array of things to do. Do you have the capacity to do it all or does the volume of your ideas stress you out? How are you being present in the process?
Being an idea junkie, I know firsthand what can happen when I allow too many shiny ideas in my mind. Last week, my coach gifted me space and perspective to challenge my workload. Currently, I am co-writing two books, writing my next solo book, coaching, podcasting, and blogging. I am also exploring an idea as an online programme.
The next day, on my morning walk, I reflected on our conversation. The word ‘overwhelm’ hit me. I thought about my lineup of work. There is a lot. Too much in fact. If I choose to pursue all of it now, I will burnout. Even though each part of my plan links to the heart of what I do, the act of doing it all will impact my personal performance and I will deliver below par. I will not be present in the process.
On return from my walk, I listened to an episode of Practicing Human by Cory Muscara. He shared a beautiful poem, Slow Dance by David Weatherford. Perfect timing.
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
or listened to rain slapping the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight,
or gazed at the sun fading into the night?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.
Do you run through each day on the fly,
when you ask, “How are you?”, do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.
Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow,
and in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,
’cause you never had time to call and say hi?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
it’s like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life isn’t a race, so take it slower,
hear the music before your song is over.
Listening to the words helped me recognize, if I stay on my current path, I will work on autopilot. I will fail to be present in the process, to see the joy of the journey. I did a brainstorm and put everything down on paper. The paper version painted a clearer picture. I am at peak personal performance when I commit to doing one thing at a time and give it my best.
Thanks to my amazing coach, I will slow dance and be present in the process.