Hi 👋🏽, I’m Stacy Casson. I have over twenty years of continuous improvement experience. I’m calm in a crisis unless you are that jerk in the White Tesla who does not understand how indicators work. Get ready with me. Is your calendar packed to the gills? Are you constantly double or triple-booked? Do you groan when your alarm goes off? You don’t have to face the overwhelm alone. I write this blog to help us get ready for the week ahead. “A problem well defined is a problem half-solved.” – Dan Martell.
When I was an “I Am Remarkable” facilitator, part of the homework was to regularly remind yourself about your wins. I have been consistent on my YouTube channel and have posted at least once a week. My next video idea is to write words and record them, symbolically fading away. What do you wish would fade away? Bills? Stress? Let me know in the comments, and you may see your word fade away. I worked out every day, even though I wanted to hit the snooze button. I also got up and took more regular walks. What were your wins?
This week, we will use a Random Picture generator for inspiration. A big source of overwhelm is not having answers to questions. You read the news and see your loved ones struggling. Or you have challenges in the office and no solution, and you have to keep morale up. So what do we do?
https://pixabay.com/photos/middle-ages-knight-armor-historical-2010659/
What is happening next week? It may feel like you are getting ready for battle. The armor is scuffed from many previous skirmishes, and the sword and chain mail links are gleaming. If you are reading this, you are seeking tips and strategies to overcome your challenges. Notice that this armor is articulated and paired with chain mail. This allows for movement and flexibility while offering protection. When you don’t have answers, you have to learn to go with the flow. What resources or contacts can help you? Can you develop a plan B? What insights did you glean from last week’s battles?
https://pixabay.com/photos/lighthouse-netherlands-sea-beach-5031977/
What obstacles do I anticipate? This lighthouse reminds me that keeping the focus is what prevents disaster. They guide navigation and serve as landmarks. I had my week planned out and then learned a friend was in town. I immediately made myself available. I honestly don’t know what the ramifications will be. This week, I had a bout of insomnia and am a bit depleted. Will I listen to my internal lighthouse about making time to rest? The other thing I notice about this picture is that it is bisected diagonally by a grassy hill on the left and a cloudy blue sky above, with the lighthouse bridging the gap. Work/Life balance is a constant struggle. What will be your guiding light?
https://pixabay.com/photos/crow-shadow-separate-shift-4909343/
What can help? Sometimes boats crash despite there being a lighthouse. Maybe we misinterpreted our energy level and thought we could make it around the bend, but a storm came out of nowhere. This picture feels like the calm after the storm. The birds have found a measure of safety on the floating chest. Yet we see ominous fins of a creature passing very close by. What mental flotation devices do you have? Deep breathing is my number one go-to for dealing with overwhelm. The birds on the chest face each other, and one speaks while the other listens. When you don’t have answers, you may need to grab a floatation device to buy yourself time. You don’t know, but maybe there is someone in your network you can ask? When I don’t know something, I am honest. “I’m sorry, I don’t know the answer, but I can do some research and get back to you.” What can help you tread water and get some space to think clearly?
https://pixabay.com/photos/coffee-tea-cup-time-mug-teacup-1869647/
What is a potential next step? Making myself a cup of tea is another strategy when I need a little headspace. What is your next best action? You don’t have to solve world peace. What is the next thing that keeps you moving forward? A tea or coffee break can help you connect with your senses. There are many strategies, like five-minute tasks or taking a walk. The important thing is to take the next action that guides you safely by using your lighthouse truth to navigate. Will organizing your sock drawer help you finish that presentation? Probably not, but it may give you enough of a mental break and a tiny win to be in a better decision-making mindset. The clock is ticking, and you don’t have the answer. You may not have the answer to that specific question, but you have options about providing an answer. You can tell the truth; offer a timeline to respond. Remember that just because someone puffs up and is mean to you, you don’t have to let them break your soul. Remember your lighthouse. Namaste.
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Picture Descriptions: 1. Medieval articulated armor and sword lying on a bed of chain mail. 2. A lighthouse. The picture is bisected diagonally with a grass hill on the bottom half and a cloudy blue sky at the top. The lighthouse is located at the intersection of the two, positioned in the bottom right corner, approximately an inch away from the margins on the left and bottom. 3. A chest floating in the sea. Two black birds are perched upon it, one at either end. An ominous serrated fin passes nearby in a menacing manner. It is about to be daybreak, and there is the slightest hint of the sun rising in the water, breaking through the gloom. 4. A cup of tea or coffee on a saucer on top of an old manuscript with an illustration of circles and intersections. An old pocket watch is in the left corner, draped upon a stack of books.
