Thursday, May 16, 2013
It's Getting Real
Yesterday I received the official “It’s a Go” email – medical reviews complete, no obstacles looming. It’s been quite a journey so far. There was a roller coaster ride determining how I would carry things; it kick-started my creative problem-solving skills (I found a teardrop backpack with a great hip belt and just one strap). With help from a dear friend I recognized some of my internal demons about taking risks and being vulnerable. A difficult scenario faced by another in southern Africa highlighted cultural differences. And through all it lies the knowledge that even though there are times I just want “it” (the “it” keeps changing) to be resolved, there’s always another “it” waiting. “It” is called Life. Sigh. Grin.
“It” used to be severing the last legal ties of my divorce. That happened May 1. Did you hear me singing and dancing in the streets?
Now “it” is finishing tasks so I can be out of the country for more than 27 months. It’s completing the process of sorting stuff into take/leave stacks, and deciding what to store, sell, give away or throw away. Scheduling all the last minute projects. Each completion opens a door to a whole new set of To Do's.
Ah, completing tasks. Another reminder of how I accomplish things. Is anyone familiar with MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator)? I’m a very strong Perceiver. That means making decisions is difficult because I have a hard time believing I have enough information. Am also a very strong iNtuitive, which means doing things in an order impossible to explain or predict (even to myself). So I start with many lists, then do things all over the chart – and it seems I don't complete any of them. I don’t think. I may not have enough information to be sure. Besides, I’ll probably change my mind. A lot of my decisions come when I’m doing something else. My life feels pretty chaotic. I think that’s good – being comfortable living with chaos. Bottom line, though, is I know that if I just keep at it, stay focused and check off the finished things, it all gets done. It’s magic. I truly don’t know how it works, I just know it does.
So my challenge to you (are you getting tired of challenges?) is to look at your own style of completing large tasks. Do you trust yourself to complete them? Are you comfortable with your style? Could you explain that style if you had to do so? Does it matter?
As for me – I need to get back to work. Staging is coming, you know?
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So happy everything is finalized for Swaziland--at least on their end.
ReplyDeleteYou already know this, my Myers Briggs Type is INTJ. It's been the same for 30 years. In my younger days it was INFJ. So my J is the opposite of your P.
How do I complete large tasks? By doing something every day, even when I don't feel like it.
At least you have a good excuse, being a high Perceiver (P), for chaotic procrastination. My excuse for not completing a large task is usually 100% related to FEAR. Fear of success, fear of failure, general fear of someone is going to figure out I don't know what in the hell I'm doing. :)
But I recognize this in myself and so do a little each day anyway, and usually do a lot when I'm up against the wall of a deadline. So far I haven't died from fear or ended up in jail, for discovery that I'm a fake, so I figure it's working. :)
Inch by inch
ReplyDeleteRow by row
Someone bless these
Seeds you sow.
That's how you'll get it all done!
~ Steve (aka ENFP)
There's also the "I'll just..." method to get started. Then the "one more weed" syndrome kicks in; amazing how much can get done (grin).
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