(most of the time anyway).
But we make it all so complicated (and we know it… but we still do it).
I know I am stating the obvious but, as we never listen to our own advice, I thought I would remind us both.
Take this morning for example I was up, showered and at my laptop by 6.30am along with my first cup of strong coffee. I’ve always been an early riser, always looked forward to the new day and always full of plans and ideas I want to start (now).
I only had three tasks for the day on my ‘to do’ list: write this article, update my Instagram page and finish off a little consultancy work. I was feeling relaxed, upbeat and looking forward to the day.
The devil sneaked in
Before I had even finished my coffee things had changed:
- I started worrying about the ‘brand masterclass’ I am about to launch this week.
- Was it good enough?
- Will people think it was worth the money?
- Should I add more content to it before I launch it?
- Should I delay it?
- I remembered the kitchen roof still leaks when there is a heavy rainstorm. I need to fix it (now).
- Is this even a good topic for an article; maybe I should write about something else?
- Do I get enough exercise, should I bring the exercise bike back out if the shed and start (now)?
Before I knew it I had added another 5 things to my list for today and filled myself with so much self- doubt I couldn’t make any decisions at all.
My clear, uncomplicated vision for the day had disappeared in a cloud of indecision.
Simple
Or it could be, but, why do we keep making it so hard for ourselves?
Life starts out simple: we’re born… we watch, we learn, we laugh or cry and we eat, poop and sleep.
As we get older it gets more complicated, as we learn to navigate friendships, school, homework, exams, adolescence, first loves, first breakups.
Then comes working life: more friendships, more relationships, money worries, rent, mortgages and disappointments.
We have more and more things to worry about, to stress over, to make decisions about, to pay attention to (or not) and more baggage to carry with us.
My light bulb moment
Some of you might have worked this out years ago and, deep down, I knew it years ago (maybe), but I wasn’t listening.
The answer is that it has been easy all the time. We make it complicated and most of us make it harder than it need be.
I only have to look back over the years at all the projects I have worked on, remembering when I would wake up at night worrying about this that and the other.
95% of which never actually happened.
I would worry about whether or not clients liked me (silly right?), when in reality I was no more than an option to them (and that’s a story for another time).
At the end of the day we are all on the same journey and we all reach the same destination.
No matter how much we worry, how complicated we make the journey, how many mistakes we make, how much money we earn (or not), how many possessions we own (or don’t), the only thing that is really important is whether we did our best along the way and didn’t do it at the expense of others.
So are you going to make today, this week (your life) complicated or simple? It’s up to you. What’s it gonna be?
Lighten up, have fun along the way. ‘Play but don’t be played’.
Make it a journey worth remembering.
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” – Hunter S Thompson
