Hung Up, Not Overwhelmed – See. Perceive. Act
“Overwhelming,” former procrastinators, means “difficult to resist, overpowering.” We must get out of the tsunami mindset. We’re daughters of the King filled with His Holy Spirit. The task may be extremely large and very unpleasant, but God can handle it. He lives in us.
Sometimes we get hung up on a particular aspect of a large job. Our perception prevents action.
Does A CERTAIN TYPE OF JOB overwhelm you? Finances? Child rearing? Holding a job and running a home? Pinpoint what scares or frustrates you most. Submit it to the Lord. Remember “Trade lesser fears for the fear of God.”
Do I DISLIKE THIS TYPE OF WORK? The longer we put it off, the worse it gets in our minds and sometimes in actuality. Jump right in. You may find it’s not so bad. And if you still dislike it, it’s over!
GET HELP. Do this early on to avoid spinning your wheels. Don’t depend on your own brain to figure everything out. Turn to someone who has abilities in that area. Getting help is your responsibility. Then, it’s your responsibility to follow through. {In spite of my mother’s example and instruction, as a new bride, I was bamboozled by meal planning. I called a friend who said, “I have beef one night, then chicken, then, tuna. Then I start over.” That simple approach got me going and took away the fear.)
BREAK IT DOWN. A wise helper can show you how to best “mini-fy” so your efforts are effective. Consistently take small bites of the elephant. Once there’s a breakdown plan, just focus on one step.
RECOGNIZE THAT SOME THINGS IN LIFE ARE FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD. They demand time and effort that make it hard to do other things. Sickness, moving, etc. can require almost total attention. Some parents do not allow children to participate in ball teams, debate, theatre, etc. because they interrupt family life. Others value those learning opportunities and find ways to function well (or well enough) while participating in them. You get to choose as the Lord guides. You might sabotage yourself if, by choice, you move from one demanding time period to another year after year. You might deplete reserves and neglect essentials. Make the effort to find the way that works for your family without being overwhelmed by the idea. Talk with others who’ve coped with similar situations.
DEVELOP A TIMELINE APPROPRIATE FOR THE JOB AND YOUR MIND. Some jobs take years even if you work diligently on them. Others eat up years because we allow them to through neglect. Deadlines help move us to action.
KEEP MOVING. Don’t get bogged down. Telling myself this carries me over many humps in the road. It’s so easy to stop. “Keep moving” will empower you to work ten minutes or an hour that results in progress. It also keeps me from getting sidetracked.
One more great help next week!
Which issue here might be a sticking point for you?
