Sometimes you have trick your mind when faced with a challenge. It can grow like a weed in your head and keep you from getting things done.
Imagine that you’re about to go skydiving for the first time. As the plane takes off, you start to get more and more nervous. The only thing you can think about is having to jump out of a plane. Before long, your body is paralyzed with fear.
The same thing can happen on the job, when you need to start a big, new project. Hour after hour, it will sit on your desk, mocking you for your inactivity. Eventually you’ll get the work done but not before going through a lot of stress and anxiety. Sounds to me like a one-way ticket to Burnout City. What if we could Clear the Path of this problem…
In both cases, you’re focused too much on one aspect of a journey. For the skydiver, it’s the first jump out of the plane. Behind your desk, it may be the not knowing how to start your project and worrying that you’ll make a wrong decision.
For the skydiver, the key to getting around this fear is to focus more on the excitement you’ll feel as you safely soar through the clouds. How cool would that be? On solid ground, that’s what you’ll remember.
In the workplace, you need to think about what it will feel like for your project to be a success. Imagine seeing your superiors nodding in approval as you deliver the goods. Then work your way backwards in the process in your mind. Go through each step you’ll need to take to reach that outcome.
If you’re still stuck, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes just bouncing ideas off another person is all you need to get over your fear of taking that first step.
Still shy about getting help? Keep in mind that brand new skydivers rarely jump alone. They’re usually jumping tandem, connected to a trained instructor.
