The Resolution Solution

This year, I'm not making any resolutions.  I only have one goal: to enjoy life more. That’s it. It’s how I focused on finishing writing projects this year, even while my brain hollered about music. Focused presence feels finer than anything I've tried.

I know what it takes to feel fit: morning pages and 15 minute meditations before work. After work, exercise before Netflix.  In between I juggle writing projects, monthly collage calendars, learning Instagram, connecting with friends, and reading. Lately, I've been reading about writing and reading great writing.

Here's an image that keeps my heart on the lighter side of goal-tending. When a pilot sets his course, the plane doesn’t fly in a straight line. Instead, it constantly makes adjustments. In this way, it reaches its intended target. 

Detail from 2019 October Calendar collage

I’ve set my heart on presence. Emotional guidance is my auto-pilot.

Esther Hicks describes it this way. This thought makes me feel a little better. This thought feels a little worse. Thought by thought, action by action, I show up for my sweet California life.

Where are you headed in 2020? 

The Procrastination Blues

Since I've been settled into my new working life, I've been doing my best to avoid completing a creative project. I kept telling myself I was too busy, too tired, too stuck to move forward.

But now that the DVD player in my computer needs replacing, I've renewed my commitment to the project's completion. I told my vision support group that I'll work on this task for 10-minutes a day,  minimum.

The point of 10 minutes is take tiny steps toward completing a task  Because of the short time limit, I generally work past the alarm. However, if I've had an especially long day, 10 minutes is all I need to tell myself, 'there, today I spent time moving forward on my dream.'

Wednesday evening I worked for one 10-minute session, but now I'm back to avoiding. So many inspiring books, so little time.

I recently ran into a creative acquaintance at Trader Joe's. I hadn't seen him for several years. After catching up, I told him about my procrastination.

"I think I was hoping it would turn out better. I'm disappointed that it isn't perfect."

He could relate.

A different creative friend who has launched many projects responded,

"Liking your own project isn't the point. But now that you've invested so much energy, it's time to just get it done."

I guess I can re-name this blog The Perfectionism Blues.

Now that I think about it, I got this far on the steady eddy method. In fact, the project was completed during my house-hopping stint.

So, if I didn't even need stability to get to this point: I'm not going to allow a little stability stop me now.

How do you move through the procrastination blues???