Is Over-Thinking Holding You Back?

When we moved to our current home, it looked like Jane and John Boring lived there.  White walls.  Oatmeal carpet.  White vinyl kitchen floor.  Snooooooooze. 

Boring.  Our initial reaction was, "Wow - we'll have to get some color in this house!"

So why, you might ask, did it take us over four years of living in John and Jane Boring's home before we finally put a little color on the wall?

Over-Thinking.

Instead of just making a trip to a home improvement store, choosing a few colors we liked and slapping them on the walls, we found ourselves paralyzed by too much thought.

"If we paint this wall, we'll have to paint that wall.  That means we have to coordinate colors.  What colors will go with our stuff?  What about those light fixtures - they won't match our new color.  And the furniture!  It will have to be replaced.  The carpet!  We'll need new carpet.  Window treatments!  Aaaack!"

Our little "under $100" painting project just became a 5-figure remodel! 

So, we did nothing.  For four years. 

Here's how it finally changed.  Someone had given us a home improvement store gift certificate that was about to expire.  When we realized that, we hastily chose some fun colors, bought the paint, took a day off and went for it. 

Guess what - it's lovely. 

And, guess what else - there's a lesson here.  Any action is better than inaction! 

Last month, I encouraged you to take a look around your life and uncover what your world is saying about you. 

If you're not giving the message you mean to convey, it's time to take a step.  Any step.

What's the first step you could take to move a little closer to your dream?  What step would start the momentum you need to create your most perfect self?  What do you need to do to allow yourself to take a leap forward? 

Right now - today - could you allow yourself to take that step?  Without "thinking yourself out of it"?

The paralysis of over-thinking has probably stopped you from pursuing your dreams in the past.  Haven't you waited long enough? 

One of the things I love about coaching (and for myself, being coached), is it can really help with defining a first step, developing an action to take, and encouraging a person to keep moving along the path.  Sometimes it's not so much motivation as inertia.  Coaching can be a little kick-in-the-pants!

PLAYTIME

Pick a step - choose one step you can take in the next two weeks to begin your forward momentum to your dream.  Just choose one thing. 

Now, write it down, in this type of phrasing:

"I am allowing myself to take the following step: (write it down)"

Next, look at a calendar, and set a date by which you will have taken this step.

Finally - tell someone, and ask that person to inquire about your progress.

Happy Journeys!