Last week I talked about following my own advice to do only what excites you and not attach to doing anything in particular.

I was writing about how I sat down to write a blog post, but it wasn’t coming. After waiting for a bit, it didn’t feel exciting to wait any longer, so I decided to call it off. Then the post came... actually three came.

That’s what non-attachment will do for you. When you have to do something, it’s difficult. When don’t want something to happen or be as it is and you and try to avoid it, it sticks around. The universe is funny like that.

As soon as I didn’t care if I had a blog post, I had three.

As soon as you stop having to leave your awful job, a new opportunity will arrive.

Do what excites you, don’t attach to anything in particular, and you’ll be on the path to the life you are meant to live.

Simple formula that’s way harder to follow than it is to write.
 

Last Monday I suggested that when it comes to work and life, we should only do the things that excite us. I also suggested that some days bookkeeping, billing, and filing actually fall into that category. I wasn’t kidding on either point.

When you do what excites you, you’re following your essential self. Your essential self knows how to get you to where you want to go (even when you don’t know where that is!).

The part of you that knows what makes you smile is the part worth listening to. The part that is afraid or logical isn’t the part of you that leads you to a happy life or a successful business.

I have a friend who, right now, only wants to do yoga and write. That’s it. Now, in this moment, doing those things won’t make a dime for her in her business. But she trusts this part of her to lead her in the right direction. She’s taking care of herself with yoga, and she’s working on a very important book. And she’s trusting it’s the right thing to do, even if her logic mind can’t make sense of it. I believe she’s right on track.

It might sound scary to do only what excites you, but when we follow this path, the universe provides... even if we’re not sure how it will happen.

Put the fear and the “need to know” aside, even if only for one hour or one day or one decision, and see what happens.
 

As I sat down today to write my blog post, I found a dozen other things to do. I was sitting and waiting for the post... (I don’t think about what to write, I wait and let the blog post come to me.)... and I kept getting distracted by other things. I finally decided that today might be a day to skip writing. After all, I always coach my clients, especially the business owners, to not do anything that doesn’t feel good. Today, writing a blog post didn’t feel as good as brainstorming a new idea that I’ve been stewing.

The moment I let go of having to blog today, because that’s what I do, the idea came: I, too, need to follow my own advice.

1. Only do what excites you.

2. Don’t attach to doing anything in particular.

I find the most joy and the most success in my business when I follow those two tips. Before I started operating this way, I was skeptical that I would get all of the things I “had to do” done, like bookkeeping, billing, and filing. However, there are days when those things feel fun, believe it or not.

Skeptical? I’ll write more in the coming posts on doing what feels exciting and not attaching to anything.

In the mean time, see what happens if you focus on what excites you. Report back and let me know how it goes.
 

Are you focused on the end result, or do you enjoy the process of getting where you want to go?

Whether it’s figuring out what to do with your life or career, taking your business to its next level, or training a puppy, enjoy getting there. Once you are “there,” nothing really changes... except you’ll find a new “there” to go and the process repeats.

I learned this last week in rewriting several pages on my website, and I was reminded by it last night when I saw these irises opening. I love how they look before they have fully blossomed--more than I like them opened all the way. They reminded me to appreciate my own process of unfolding--in life, in my business, and with training our new puppy.

How do you remind yourself to enjoy the process of getting where you want to go?
 

You’re busy with work, life, family, community activities, and more. You committed to someone that you’d do that thing, and you’re waiting on someone else to get back to you with some other details. Although the specifics of these tasks are all simple, it causes you stress and seems to take more time than it should. Yet you have no idea how to change things.

You think, “I just need to make some time to read that time management book.”

I will say, I’m not a fan of time management books. The details are so specific. They teach you that their way is the right way and the only way, and you better do it this way or your life isn’t going to get any easier.

No, thank you.

How you manage your time and your tasks should be as unique as you are. It should be customized to how you work and how you live.

There are, however, a few principles behind all time management systems.

1. Get stuff out of your head and captured somewhere.
2. Trust your “captured somewhere.”

This puts everything in the right place when you need it. You don’t have to trust your memory to tell you that you still need to pick up a baby card for your friend. It’s captured and you trust that it’s captured.

This brings in the third principle of time management systems.

3. Have a task retrieval system you trust.

You can use
a to-do list,
a calendar,
a small notebook in your pocket or purse,
a stack of post-its on your forehead,
any of the above,
or anything else you can imagine.

Create a system you trust.
Use the system.

That’s how your to-do list can be stress-free.

Setting up a system takes creativity and experimentation. Some people need a little help.

Put the time in now to create something that makes life easier. Your stress-levels will thank you.
 

Your new identity has been revealed through the hole left from your old identity’s dissolution. You’ve followed the breadcrumbs and spotted your new destination.

You can clearly articulate who you are and what you are to do next.

How are you going to reach your goal?

Map out the steps--every single one. Fill in the blanks. When you’re not sure how to accomplish something or how to get from one step to another, ask for help. Learn new things. Interview experts.

When the picture is clear, it’s time for the real work. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and make things happen. (This is my favorite part!)

Take the first step. Then the next one. The steps can be small (actually, that’s recommended)--no need to leap or try to tackle everything at once.

Learn what you need to along the way.

Fumble and be willing to fail.

Go back and redraw the map where you got it wrong. No one says it will be or has to work perfectly on the first try.

Enjoy watching your dream unfold. You are making it happen.

Photo courtesy of Jasmic via Flickr