I looked up from the computer and it was 4:48 am… another late night, couldn’t sleep so I’ll just work night that began at midnight. Arghhh!
Ever find yourself in that place of trying to go to sleep and your brain starts the loop of the day? Mine does. What haven’t I gotten done? What needs to get done? Why did I do that instead of that other thing? How could I screw up a birthday present?
In my world, I am retired, Haha! 😊 I write, I pay bills, I taxi grandkids and my kid occasionally. I do a radio show, I’m working on a podcast, and I write. I love doing events live again and working on virtual ones. I take classes, I have a coach, I write, and I make drums. I love to travel and want to do a lot more (letting the Universe know my intent).
Sound familiar? Welcome to my world of overthinking, overworking (my good enemy procrastination had hold of the reins last week) now I am overdoing once again. Ugh!
Most of the time I laugh at folks who say, “You’re so busy…” because it feels like I have a lot of time on my hands, or I just look back and see how much time I waste.
I am diligent and dedicated when I need to be. I perform well under pressure when I find myself there, and excel at pushing myself when my passion is fueled by my heart’s desires, manifesting those dreams.
Exhausting? Yes, it can be, but… I’m working on it and working on a better way, sometimes every day.
While all I get done is great. It is stressful and reactively driven rather than purposefully planned. I do not manage my calendar as well as I teach others to do theirs. Truth! I used to tell my students not to follow me around and do like I did. Rather, I told them to listen to me and learn a better way, do what I say (teach) instead.
Buzz word of the decade, perhaps the millennium – Balance!
Everyone is talking about it, teaching about it, coaching on how to find and cultivate it in your life. Me too!
My story is a common one… I often stumble through by overdoing, overworking, and overthinking ‘til I pull myself back into myself and breathe, plan, write it down, and calendar it. That’s when spare time becomes my time once again. Me first time instead of the “what I should be doing now” time that pushes me back into overwhelm, analysis paralysis, and mental fatigue.
The behavior fallback throws up a barrier to my creativity and ability to make clear, confident decisions. The short and sour of it all is that it robs me of peace of mind and sleep, or drives me into sleep to still the noise of it all.
My overworking in the real world of business and production became a badge of honor (a real heavy one truth be told). My body suffered, my mind slowed, my energy went down the tubes and I found myself comfortably settled in my overstuffed chair, stuffing the to do list down with chocolate chip cookies.
When I began studying with spiritual teachers, self-empowerment mentors, and supportive coaches, I began to see that there could be a better way. I was learning an easier path to walk, and ways to bring myself back to me when I would get lost in the world of all my busy. I discovered the power of just “being” me.
It was time to watch those other three culprits disappear in the rear-view mirror. Time for me to embrace a more balanced approach. This is a real challenge for one who has always pushed the envelope then crashed, curled up, came up through creative adventures and began again… a viscious and unhealthy cycle that had become my way of living.
Making any change in my day-to-day routine was going to require a commitment to my own self-awareness and a willingness to kick my old habits to the curb as I work to schedule new ones in their place. It isn’t easy and it is a constant battle. Here are some of the things I am working on. Maybe one or more will spark a familiar chord for you as well:
I am practicing how to choose me first by prioritizing the activities that nurture my body, mind, heart, and soul. As Suzie Powder would say, “You have to eat. You have to move. You have to breathe.” And I will add, you have to have fun. I need to make time for my faith, family and friends and consistently bring creative adventures into my world.
I keep learning and looking for new ways to plan the path ahead, laying down the bricks one at a time, each stone a step in the direction of my dreams becoming my reality. What do I need to do and what do I need to stop doing to manifest my act of power, push away overwhelm, and help me stay focused on what’s important in my world, every day.
You see, if I can stay present, aware, and awake, intentionally, then when I find myself off balance, out of “whack,” or falling down another rabbit hole, I know I can bring myself back to center creatively. It could be writing, bead work, making jam, or sitting under my cottonwood tree breathing. The point is, creativity is my key to de-stress and re-center my mindset as I move on with my day in pursuit of my dream.
And I am not afraid to ask for help, hire a coach, delegate where I used to try to do it all myself. I move my boundaries when I have to, remembering they are necessary but must be amoeba-like, not stiff and inflexible.
And… I give myself grace when I don’t get it right, when my good enemies overthinking, overworking, and overdoing get off their bench and put themselves back in my game.
Is it time for you to put old, destructive, distracting, and sometimes harmful habits in your rearview mirror? It is never too late for a reset and with gratitude for every lesson along the way, I say thank you.
Drive on ya’ all. Drive towards a healthier, happier, and hopefully more satisfying, grace-filled future. Keep your eyes on the dream ahead and your hands on the wheel. You are the navigator of your life journey.
** Registration is OPEN for Journey Through the Shaman’s Doorway, an in-person gathering over the Fall Equinox weekend Sept 21-22. Register now and reserve your spot to join me with renowned vision quest guide and shamanic teacher, Beth Beurkens… sign up soon as space is limited at the Diamond Springs Center in central CA (near Placerville).
Email vicki@vickidobbs with any questions and register here: https://bit.ly/JourneyThroughTheShamansDoorway
Please enjoy my Free PDF –
6 Ways Your Life Can Change When You Adopt an Optimistic Attitude
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Vicki Dobbs is a bold and adventurous warrior walking a path of heart to manifest spirituality in everyday lives. She opens existential gateways for individuals to face their challenges and embrace these tests as the great teachers that they are.
Her goal is to see everyone walk in beauty and balance every day of their lives empowered by the voice of their own authentic truth.
Through Wisdom Evolution and Sacred Wisdom Workshops, Vicki creates opportunities for others to make deep personal changes through experiential classes, ceremony, sacred art and story. She endeavors to inspire others to create their lives intentionally. Vicki is an Inspirator of everyday awareness, an Instigator of spontaneous stories and a Connoisseur of Creativity. Gratitude and grace sprinkled with humility and humor are the medicine she brings to the world.
As an Elder, Teacher and Entrepreneur, Spiritual Coach, Ordained Minister and Crafter of Sacred Art and Tools, Vicki perceives life’s journey as an ever-upward spiraling ascension of the human spirit leading her to wisdom, wholeness and authenticity.
Her experience includes being trained in the Harner Method of Shamanic Counseling and the Pachakuti Mesa Tradition of Cross Cultural Shamanism. She is a Graduate Teacher and Mentor with the Lynn Andrews Center For Sacred Arts and Training and has been the Administrator and Writers Guide for Writing Spirit, the School.
Vicki is also an Artist of the Spirit Certified Spiritual and Energetic Life Coach, a Graduate Mentor in the AoS program and a founding member of HeatherAsh Amara’s Warrior Goddess Leadership Team and Facilitator of the Warrior Heart Practice.
Connect with Vicki here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vickildobbsauthor
