Fighting Overwhelm

We are living in a time of unprecedented choices and a myriad of new options. Many of my clients are asking me: "Do I need a blog?" "Should I joi
Facebook or Linked In?" "How does online marketing work?" "What kinds of products should I create? "How do I best use my creative energy?"

These are complex and powerful questions. As people tapping into our creativity, the choices can be overwhelming and lead to paralysis. I am in product development mode myself and need to keep my focus clear and not get distracted by too many ideas or pathways.

So, how do we prevent ourselves from getting overwhelmed, frustrated, immobile, scattered, or otherwise dysfunctional? Here are some tips to keep you on track:

1) Pull out your list of annual goals or your business plan, if you have one. If you don't, write a one page description of what you are trying to accomplish with your creative urges. Start with your own personal "big picture" before you make a move.

2) Take some time to make sure what you say you want is what you really want. Have your goals changed? Is your heart somewhere else now? Are you going in a direction that fascinates you and calls to you? Often we feel overwhelmed when we lose our sense of purpose or mission.

3) Focus on what you feel is right for you and then start by visualizing all the steps you need to take to get there. As you go through the steps in your mind, ask yourself these questions: Are you enjoying the process? Do you need help from someone? Are you satisfied with what you are doing? Tune into your intuition and note what messages you are receiving about your idea.

4) If your idea doesn't feel right, then go back to Item #1 and start over. If your idea suits you as a next project, write down the action steps you identified in your visualization. This is your creative project roadmap. Try to estimate the time it will take to complete what you are trying to do.

5) Now, take your other creative ideas and "To Do's" and put them in what I call a "Later" folder. Rest assured that you haven't lost them but you can't do everything at once. Now go to your calendar and block off time to work on your creative project. Review what you have scheduled already and see what you can subtract, unload, or postpone. Be vigilant and get rid of things, so that you allow your creative brilliance to unfold.

6) Make your creative project a priority in your life. Every morning, read through your action plan and remind yourself of why you are doing what you are doing. Focus your intentions and trust that you will find the resolutions to the snags you encounter as you engage with your plan.

There will be challenges to resolve and conquer. You can count on that. Your determination to stay the course will make the difference between success and failure. Problems can be resolved if we engage our creative self and pull in the brainstorms of trusted others, as needed.

7) Lastly, celebrate your results! Note what helped you to make this project work and what undermined you. Life is about continuous learning and mastery. Good luck!