My head is spinning. And it’s because of my obsessive nature. When I decide I want to get something done, it’s got to be done yesterday, in its entirety, regardless of the enormity of the project.
This little proclivity of mine has been hanging around for years. I become fixated on a project and forget to surface to eat, sleep or take care of the little necessities of life. I become so excited and wrapped up in what I’m doing that I can’t pry myself away–which can be a good thing when I’m working on a project which is truly being driven by my passions.
On the other hand, it can be unnecessarily taxing on myself and the people who love me.
My latest thing is blogging. My love and passion for the written word makes the thought of writing an online journal so fascinating and seductive that I can barely stay away from the computer. I don’t watch much TV or engage in other time wasting activities, so I tell myself it’s okay to spend hours at a time on the computer. I think I’m hooked. If someone turned off my internet connection right now I’d been spitting mad. We might even fight.
I know I can become obsessive about things, especially when starting new projects. I have the much-talked-about Type A kind of personality. When I’ve completed the project, it’s off the next big thing. I look around to see what else there is to conquer. What other project can I dive into and get lost in? When I’m between projects, a weird variety of boredom sets in, though I’d never classify myself as bored. Maybe restless. Itchy. My creative–and jumpy–mind has a voracious appetite.
Anyway, I know this much about myself: I can get carried away.
And I know this much about human nature: our obsessive tendencies can gain a stronghold when we’re not watchful.
Hence, I’m sharing here with you the three principles I’ll be working with as I engage in my new obsession: blogging.
Balance
Going overboard with a project is sometimes merited, but most times isn’t balanced. Balance reminds us to keep the scales somewhat even, to traverse the middle way, to take care of self as we take care of externals. Balance reminds us to stop and smell the roses, even in the middle of a marathon. When faced with a large project, the balanced approach is to determine how many hours are required to complete the project in excellence, then divide that block of time into bite-sized units which are easily doable. In my case, in order to meet my initial blog objectives, I’ve committed to 15 hours per week for now.
Flexibility
Trees that aren’t able to bend in the storm break. The same is true of human beings. After having determined how much time and energy a project will require, flexibility is needed just in case things don’t go as planned. I’m learning to be flexible with everything; my plans, my kids, my husband, living my purpose, and especially with myself. Being flexible means knowing how to stay on purpose and focused on what’s important and desired while simultaneously being able to readjust based on what works and what doesn’t.
Order
This is a big one for me. Keeping things in order isn’t easy, but it’s always worth it. Order speeds progress and increases productivity while decreasing activity. When things are in order, I do less and accomplish more. Things get out of order when I get carried away on a project and don’t stop to eat, take care of groceries or tidy up. While I’m caught up in my latest obsession, some things pile up while other things fall out of order. I’ve lived like that before, and I’ve learned enough to make a new choice today. I’d rather enjoy the peace of an ordered environment.
Sometimes I think our society puts so much emphasis on doing, achieving, succeeding and advancing that we forget it’s okay to not do, not move, not achieve.
It’s desirable, each day, to spend a substantial amount of time simply being, without doing.
So while I am happy and grateful that I have the energy, drive and physical fortitude to passionately pursue my dreams, I am likewise happy to stop, rest, and simply ‘be’.
Besides, it feels good.
Blessings,
Valerie Love
