That title for this post has been percolating all day after a couple of conversations, which prompted me to write this nudge!
Having been in touch a lot in January with my Living in the Flow email series, I can’t quite believe it’s already March and Easter is nearly upon us.
When busyness takes over
The thing I’ve been noticing a lot recently is how busy life quickly got for people this year. Nothing new in itself, but wow that busyness certainly has a way of taking over I’ve found.
And the interesting thing is that when I’m talking to people, be it in my work or personal life, far from enjoying the busyness, so many of us seem to be craving more time and space for ourselves…and often failing miserably!
As someone put so well recently “Busyness is not a badge of honour, it’s an exhausting way to live!”
Letting go of control
I’ve come to the conclusion that whatever the reasons or circumstances, it’s pretty impossible for life to feel easier when you’re running to stand still all the time. In one of the conversations I had today, the topic of control came up as a possible reason, which I think explains part of the problem.
What is it that makes it so hard to let go of control?
For me, what I’ve come to see is that we have far less control than we think we do – and that’s okay. In fact I’d go as far as to say, the less I focus on control (or put another way, stressing about what I’m doing, saying or thinking about how things will turn out) the way more freedom and space that gives me. Space to either ‘get more sh*t done’ or to simply enjoy living life.
An easier way
In one of my flow emails I posed the question: when do you get your best ideas? For me, it’s rarely when I’m overly caught up in my thinking or missioning through a ‘to do list’. Rather it’s usually when I’ve got less on my mind, having a shower, taking a walk, not overly focusing on anything in particular. It’s always then when inspiration tends to strike out of nowhere, prompting new thoughts and ideas that invariably make sense in the moment, or provide answers to something I’m grappling with.
Don’t mess with the system
The more I’ve come to experience that, the less time I spend caught up in my head and just being in life. Yes, there’s no controlling the multitude of thoughts that cross our minds in any moment, but seeing the potential for my mind to reset on its own, for fresh thinking to come in, means that busyness is fast becoming a thing of the past. It only messes with the system and keeps me out of living more in the flow, which is a much nicer place to be!
I’ll leave it there, but I really invite you to see if this is true for you too. I heard a great way of putting this recently that we might think we need to be in control, but so often it’s in that space of letting go, being more comfortable with the unknown that life invariably does a good job of living us…if we just stay out of our own way!
PS If you’re reading this and pondering “but how do I stay out of my own way…??” Or creating more space for you feels good to you, then do come along to a Living more in the Flow group. I’m having some great conversations at the minute! There really is an easier way to experience life, and whatever else, I guarantee you’ll come away with some valuable perspectives!