You don't need an exorcism, you need support
(psst...there's a gift awaiting you at the end of this email!)
Tell me if this sounds familiar:
You’re lying down to go to sleep after another long day, full of too many things to track, an unreasonable amount of loose ends that need knitting up, a seemingly-endless list of to-dos that could keep ten people busy for all eternity, an absolute sea of plates spinning on sticks that you are responsible for. You need sleep, but just as you settle in, a long shadow passes over the bed. A spike of adrenaline threads through your body, and suddenly, there it is, the boogeyman that haunts every adult: it’s…
That Thing You Keep Meaning To Do.
Yes, it’s That Thing, shambling over the threshold of your mind just as you’re trying to close up shop for the night, looking shabby, threadbare, even... neglected? Yes, neglected.
That icy burst of anxiety that jolted you out of sleep gives way to something heavier, which could feel like:
Overwhelm: that Thing is important to you, something you need or want to get moving on, but amidst everything else on your plate, it just keeps getting put off. Even thinking about trying to make room for it makes you feel like you’re drowning.
Regret or shame: that Thing is something that’s gotta get done, how could you let yourself/your team/your collaborators/your audience down? How could you let yourself down?
Fear or defeat: you must not really care about that Thing, or you would have done it by now. Maybe you’re never going to do it. Maybe it was a bad idea, or not worth doing, or maybe you’re not the person who can do it.
As a person who has a lot of projects and uh, very little time, I know these feelings all too well– in fact, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten anything done without being haunted by the Thing (at least a little). But that should let you in on a secret:
Anytime I’ve had any of those heavy thoughts about That Thing I Meant to Do, I’ve been wrong. I know this, because I’ve done nearly all of those big, hard, heart-driven projects that seemed so impossible to get done at the time. It got done, and turns out, I don’t actually suck. And neither do you!
You don’t need an exorcism to stop being haunted by That Thing You Meant to Do… you need support. Even though it’s scary when your neglected project or idea comes lurking in the night, what That Thing actually needs from you is attention and care. The specific challenge of providing that care and attention to The Thing looks different, depending on what’s been keeping you from doing it to begin with! That’s why so much generic productivity advice is unhelpful: the blocks we experience– and the kinds of support we need to get past them, and make our ideas a reality– aren’t generic.
If you’re looking for support with taking an idea from That Thing You Meant to Do to something you made real, come work with me! There’s just five more days to sign up for my workshop, Make It Real, where we’ll work on getting you moving no matter what stage you’re stuck in. Make It Real is a great way to get some of the benefits of working with me in 1-on-1 coaching, with a community support and accountability component with other participants, and at a more affordable cost than private coaching. I’ve also added a flexible scheduling option for co-working and discussion sessions, so you can choose what works best for you! See details and sign up here (enter THING10 and get 10% off, just for being part of my newsletter): https://notnotrocketscience.com/workshops
And if you made it this far, here’s a gallery of artwork by J. Carcavilla, full of people befriending monsters (and vice versa), just like you can do with your own Thing.
Take care,
L