The next steps were easy, but each one called for a decision to be made. I realized that it was the need to make more choices that was holding back my progress.
I was putting a book up on iBooks. They wanted key words. A decision. They wanted a sample chapter. A decision. They wanted…you get the picture. The steps were easy but each one needed a decision on my part.
I looked around to see where else in my life decision-making was slowing me down – or stopping me altogether.
Choose one important thing and do it
My life changed when I read a suggestion that we simply pick one important thing to accomplish each day and do it. What a difference that made! One thing. One important thing. Just one.
So if I choose to get the book cover in iBooks Author as my one important thing that meant I could look at an instruction video, again, and make my decision. Then I could read the section on uploading in iProducer. And make uploading the book the most important thing I did the next day. Each day moves me further along. And each day I have only one important thing to accomplish.
I can do that. And so can you!
Group the type of tasks
It helps to group types of tasks together. I record four videos at a time because the light is set up, my hair is combed, etc.
I write posts every day, but once a month I go through them and pull out the ones that seem to have value. Then I work on them every other day for at least three days, so I can return to them with a beginner’s mind. Then I run them through www.grammarly.com and send them to my editor. When they come back I spend a focused period of time choosing photos for all of them and bingo – I have a month’s worth of posts ready.
All because I batched my actions.
Clear space to do the work
If we’re going to focus on one thing, we have to make a decision on what we’ll momentarily put aside in order to make that happen.
If my one important thing to do this week is to edit a batch of posts, then I probably won’t record my vLog.
If my weekly newsletter is due each Sunday, I have to work on it several times during the week. I find myself inspired to write pieces of it, but on Thursday I set aside time to edit and polish it and send it to be proofed.
Keep your schedule and your choices flexible and simply go with the flow of what’s needed next.
Keep your choices simple
I was stressing out over the number of places I could/should publish my e-books. Since that technical action is not my favorite thing to do, it was even more dreaded.
Then a friend said, “Where do you buy your books?” And I said, “Amazon.” She said, “Just do that.”
Life certainly got easier just by simplifying my choices.
Wrap your head around it
That’s an odd phrase – “wrap your head around it.” There are four distinct steps to that: study, explore, reflect, choose.
Study. Study the situation to get the widest possible view.
Explore. Go a little way down the paths that call most to you and see what possibilities/potential they hold.
Reflect. Go within and listen to your intuition, your inner voice, your feelings, your knowingness.
Choose. Pick one step, one project and begin. You can always stop. You can always expand. Just make a choice and begin.
Exploration and expanding choice
The more you go exploring, the broader your choices become.
When I made my first book covers, it was based on what I knew how to do at the time. But I kept experimenting and exploring different programs and allowing what I learned to become absorbed.
And I got better.
And better.
The more you learn, the broader your choices become.
Use visioning to explore
If I were faced with a decision that required me to place myself in a new position – or not – I’d use my imagination to explore my options. I’d examine my emotions and feeling and state of happiness in the new opportunity compared with my present circumstances, and let those feeling guide my choices.
For instance, as I study shamanism I’ve become clear that I do not want to develop a big practice for individual clients. But I do want to help change the world. I’ve found a form of shamanistic participation that fits my intentions and my circumstances. Now I get to explore exactly how I’m going to live that and share that. I simply let it unfold.
Sometimes one choice is as good as another
It doesn’t really matter what form my shamanic practice takes as long as I continue to explore and expand my own understanding and find expressive ways to share what I learn with the world.
Another example is that it doesn’t matter if I stir fry my vegetables or steam them. As long as I make the healthy choice of eating vegetables.
Some decisions are important. Others not so much.
Tomorrow is good too
If something blocks our way, move it aside for the moment. For instance, I was editing a batch of posts. I make my selections from all I’ve written lately, put them in one document and start working.
I came to one that needed a lot of work. I moved it to the bottom of the document I’m working in because I’ll feel better moving through the posts that are coming together well. I can put the decision of what to do about that post that needs work until all the rest are ready. I can make it the first thing I do tomorrow. It’ll be one decision and I’ll feel good about what I’ve already accomplished – the posts that are ready to go for proofing.
Allow yourself flexibility in your schedule and your choices in order to do your best work.
Make one decision at a time
Make a choice and go exploring. If that choice doesn’t feel right, go back to base camp and begin again in a different direction. If, on the other hand, you come to an enticing side trip, feel free to take that too.
Life is a wonderful adventure full both of choices and of surprises. Enjoy the journey.
To Sing a Deeper Song Consider.
