The other day I was about to open a can of worms, and then I thought, what am I doing? That line always makes me laugh, and yet I find myself opening cans of worms all the time.
Here’s a recent example: last week I had to teach a virtual class at 3 am Friday morning. I spent a good portion of the week alternately anxious about getting up that early and dreading having to get up that early. I was totally present to this assignment, but not in a good way.
It was not until Thursday that I turned this around. I reframed my situation from what would be hard, to why I was doing it and what was good about it.
Firstly, I got to put my colleague’s mind at rest knowing I had her back. Secondly, I gave another colleague uninterrupted time to be with his out-of-town guests. Lastly, I got to serve my participants by helping them make the transition from an individual contributor to becoming a manager.
This is the long game for me: serving. And as soon as I could pull myself out of the what and the how, I could focus on my why.
And that was it: I wasn’t teaching a class at 3 am, I was helping leaders to be better at leading, to feel supported in their role, to create community so they didn’t feel so alone in their responsibilities.
That feels good, that feels heroic…it feels so much bigger than the pain of getting up at 1:30 am to be camera ready for 3 am.
It’s about playing the long game, of lifting ourselves up to find the higher meaning or purpose of the things we do day to day.
Try this ONE thing
Where are you caught up in the drama of the what and the how? Look to find the deeper meaning, the bigger purpose, and you’ll find it much easier to push through the details.
I want you show up as the confident person you are meant to be. This world needs you and me being our fully confident selves. That is our work.
I've done it and I can show you how to do it. Sign up for my blog at https://bit.ly/kltheonething and please join the conversation by sharing your comments and stories on LinkedIn or dropping me a note at karen.laidlaw.theONEthing@outlook.com.