My challenge.

We have a highly specialized mechanism to alert us to the things that require our urgent attention. I call it the ‘avoidance redirect’ move, and I’ve reached master-status (akin to a black-belt in karate, only somewhat less useful).

By way of example, let us consider the highly under-rated task of paying bills. Now, I don’t actually pay the bills in my household, but there was a time when I did, and I can tell you this…I routinely brushed the task aside (avoidance) and, conveniently, decided in that moment that nothing was quite so important as cleaning the kitchen grout, or dusting the curtains, or hitting my thumb with a hammer (redirect). Admittedly, these are low level tactics hardly fitting for a ‘master’ of my level, but this was years past folks…I’ve had time to perfect my craft.

Oddly enough, completing this task had many benefits, whereas not doing so had many costs. I find this particular bit of irony one of the more irritating humanisms, if you must know. But alas, I haven’t the time to re-write the genetic code, so it appears it’s a flaw I’m going to have to live with. In any event, it’s usually a pretty good indicator that something important needs doing so, for that, I suppose it has it’s place.

All of which brings me to the point of this post. The illustrious Zoe Westhof of Essential Prose recently issued a challenge to those willing to accept. “Come one, come all”, she (digitally) shouted, “Get off your rather large behinds and get down to the business of creating.” And then she pointed directly at me. (In retrospect, the above quote might not be entirely accurate…it’s hard to say for sure as it’s been several days [avoidance] since the alleged shouting and pointing occurred).

Nevertheless, I picked up on her subtlety and, if somewhat delayed, have decided to accept the challenge. Below lie the details.

I’m a big fan of creating (aka producing), actually. Perhaps you know this about me. But I’m going to do something a little different with this challenge. While I love writing and running and making houses for raccoons with my kids, those are primarily physical acts. I’m pretty decent at those.

But my brain? That’s a different story. Mental focus/discipline is where things tend to break down for me. Short spurts are fine, but sustained effort on the path to a specific goal has eluded me more times than I can count on my fingers and toes. So this is where my challenge begins. 

What I’m Committing To:

I am setting short-range goals and creating a mental vision of my life, in all respects, as I expect it to be. I am reviewing my goals, and my vision, daily, and I am spending 30 minutes quietly reflecting upon them, imagining their completion, picturing my vision and feeling how it will feel to be living in accordance with it. I am then spending another 30 minutes on a specific task that relates to one of my goals (in addition, of course, to the many other things I do throughout the day that also bring me down that path).

In 15 days, I will post about my many great successes, and I will reiterate my gratitude for all things Zoe. Cheers.

Photo Credit: Lars Sundstrom

Tagged as: avoidance, creating, my brain hurts