Sometimes, trying harder will keep you stuck.
When I was in my corporate job as an analyst I also had a dog. Although the company had a dog friendly policy and my pooch could hang out under my desk as I worked away, I often felt guilty about taking time out of my workday to walk him. However, I had also noticed that I came up with the most creative ideas and solutions while away from my work, walking my dog. Answers became available when I STOPPED trying so hard. Sometimes trying less will get you there faster. My walks helped me broaden my perspective, both quite literally - by turning my eyes away from my computer and taking in more of my environment - but also, perhaps more importantly, it helped me tap into a much broader range of possibilities. Being less driven to find a solution I could access seemingly unrelated thoughts, memories, and impressions, from which new connections could form. Answers and solutions popped up when I was not trying. Have you had a similar experience? I bet you have. Perhaps you came up with a great idea in the shower or solved a gnarly problem while driving. Most any activity that does NOT require you to focus on the task at hand will let you to access this broader focus. In my experience it's as if I tap into another part of myself, a part that is NOT accessible to me when I'm in task mode. Through this less structured way of being I access a sort of knowing which I believe Freud put in the hidden part of his metaphorical consciousness iceberg. In this less conscious part of myself I find answers I didn't realize I had. Recent discoveries in neuroscience also support this idea. Researchers have discovered that there are two main "modes" in which we operate. Either we are in "task mode" - focused on a complex physical or mental task, OR we are in "default mode" - a broader, unstructured way of being where we can access a different sort of knowing. In essence, when one mode is "on" the other one is "off". Next time you feel like you're having a hard time determining the "right" next step or solution, why not STOP trying. Rather than continuing to push through with sheer determination, switch mode by engaging in a more spacious activity. Flip the "task mode" switch to OFF and the "default mode" to ON. Do something that gives your mind a chance to wander. Daydream, ruminate, and imagine - allowing the brilliance of your unconscious to emerge. Ulrika is the creator of the “Making Time” program – a holistic time management approach rooted in Agile principles and practices. She supports successful professionals who want a more balanced approach toward living a truly fulfilling life. She takes her clients through an exploration to discover what's truly most important to them, and then teach/coach how to prioritize and take focused action in alignment with those deeper values.
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AuthorAs a Holistic Time Management coach Ulrika reflects on ways to live our every day on purpose - with agility. Archives
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