Ebb and Flow.  Steps forward, steps backward, setbacks balanced with sudden progress.  Seems there is no straight line to any big goal.  But that is no reason to give up.  Realizing all this helps when attempting to accomplishing big goals, especially the seemingly impossible ones.  Knowing God is the God of the Impossible and can break through barriers we cannot on our own gives the impetus to persevere.  

However, there comes a time when one needs to stop and tackle messes, unfinished business and de-clutter, purge and organize to make further progress with dreams and goals.

If you are greatly frustrated with an overwhelming To-Do List ~ take a break and get satisfaction in attacking an easier “To-Do” list ~ like getting groceries, cleaning the house, washing the car and getting the laundry done!  This alone can re-energize you for tackling the bigger list.

The seeming setback of my goals due to my dog’s major surgery ~ it’s been hard for this very athletic, happy and energetic dog and healing has been slow ~ has nonetheless proved to be the season to get to a long, backed-up To-Do List along with a deep purging of files and further organization needed.  Lately other doors seem to be opening up now and clarification is developing about what I need to do after this purging, preparing and perfecting season I’m in.

In pursuit of our big goals along with those maintenance chores mentioned, it is hard to stop, step back and decide to purge and organize.  I know I feel like I am going to lose a lot of ground and suffer for doing so.  I was blessed to run across a Jack Canfield blog awhile back on how unfinished business, incomplete tasks, and messes hold you back.  I hung it on my Vision Board.  Later, it gave me the clarification and permission to do this critical work I felt called to this past, late winter.  He discussed how the brain is distracted ~ and I can say mine was certainly stressed, as I felt I could not, dare not stop to deal with things.  The To-Do lists, unfinished business, the messes, clogged files, whatever, are basically blocking energy.  These issues are draining and keep one from full focus and direction of energy towards current goals, desires and outcomes. 

I knew physically, due to the health issues, I was on overload and would have to attend to my dog for quite some time and I needed rest desperately.  And as said in the last blog, I prayed and received direction that her surgery and recovery time was the time for purging, preparing and perfecting and to take a break from pursuing the art and writing goals.  I made a huge list of things needing to be done in every area and began to tackle it.  It has required many late nights.  And of course, life seems to send a steady supply of new issues to deal with so I worked hard to knock them to the ground as I continued working on my list.  It appears I am about three-quarters done.  I am picking up steam and starting to feel relief and freedom!  But I know it will be critical to not stop until I have finished.  I don’t want any stragglers on that list nagging me, sapping my energy.  Completion.  Finishing.  Very important!

When overwhelmed make a detailed list of everything that is bothering you, that is undone.  Write down what the solution would be to each task.  That alone can give relief to the mind as now there is a clearer idea on how to proceed.  Figure out the thing that if you got done might possibly solve a lot of other issues connected with it.  Or, consider the thing heaviest on your mind, weighing you down and tackle that.  

Break the task down into steps so when time and energy allow, you can make steady progress to get it completed.  Those are your baby steps.  Get started and stay at it so you can cross it off your list.  That will be a relief to have accomplished something huge.  When I did mine, and it was huge ~ updating my Trust/Will and all related, there was a great sense of accomplishment and relief.  Purging the legal files and files from other major issues from the past decade was another leap forward with renewed energy for tackling the other things.  It gets overwhelming in the midst of a major tasks, but just keep putting one foot in front of the other, determined to see it to full completion.  Take a break in between the major tasks.  After those are completed, hope, renewed energy and determination rise up for the lesser tasks on the list!  The end is in sight!

The end result of ploughing through the list will be a sense of freedom, energy and clarification where we can more directly pursue our dreams and goals no longer hindered by unfinished business, clutter or disorganization!