It’s simpler than we think. We have a tendency to overcomplicate what should be simple because we fear. Failure. Ego hit. Loss of social status. Societal expectations. These are well-founded fears conditioned by evolution, both ancient and immediate. But they were also once much more vital to our survival than they are now. Today, they create and maintain our comfort zone. If you stepped out, what do you think you’d find?
The human psyche is a delicate thing: we tend to fear that which we do not know, leading us to avoid anything that challenges us outside of our comfort zone. Overthinking accomplishes exactly this. It exaggerates the barrier to entry and, under most circumstances, prevents us from moving forward.
What if we took a different route? Think of a goal you’ve had, but haven’t taken up yet. What’s stopped you? Try running your thinking through the SWeeT (for Simple, Why, and Truth) framework.
Make It Simple.
We avoid the complicated, so don’t overcomplicate. The hardest part of any unfamiliar process is just getting started. We don’t know what to expect. We don’t know what’ll happen and when. And we don’t have the experience to know how to deal. This is usually the time when we’re truly out of our depths, and it can be scary. So make it simple. Reverse engineer the problem, shrink the problem space, and put your head down. You want to lose 10 pounds in time for the summer? Tomorrow, put on your sweat gear and go for a 20-minute run after work. Or do 20 pushups and 20 squats when you get home before dinner. Rinse and repeat, one step at a time.
Every action has an equal, but opposite, reaction. Familiar from our middle school physics days, this simple but abstract concept applies to much more than an apple falling from a tree. Why did you take up that passion project? Can it be because you don’t feel fulfilled at work and you’re looking to balance fulfillment? Why did you let anger get the best of you? Is it because you’ve felt like you’ve lost control before and you’re looking for more control in your life? Understand your reactions’ why. Come to peace with it. Do the right thing. Let that drive you.
Finish Strong by Not Compromising on Your Truth.
The simplest things have the potential to derail your potential. Situations tend to take a turn for the worst when we compromise our truth. A coworker took something out on you? A boss had an unprofessional, demeaning reaction? Tell them. Hold them accountable. If you don’t stand up for what you believe in once, you make it easier to do a second time. And a third. You risk compromising your truth. It’s a slippery slope, and its effects can we widespread. We become what we believe. Nip it in the bud.
The purpose of breaking your thoughts down like this isn’t to delve down a rabbit hole. Or to dig a deeper one. The purpose is to bring clarity and peace, and that may require taking a dive into that rabbit hole and filling it with dirt from the inside until you stand above ground.
Caveat
Manage your energy. It’s your fuel and it’s a finite resource. Going too hard for too long has the potential to deplete your store. Find ways to find balance. You may have to go hard at first to get over the initial hump and build momentum, but at some point, you’ll have to think longer term than you have been. If you don’t take care of you, you won’t have anything left for anyone else.
Find your truth and, as always, be more than you ever thought possible. For an extra dose of inspiration, see our canvas prints and quoted apparel.
With love,
Pasha & the Bemore Team
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