From Possibilities to Progress

Have you ever been stuck? Let me rephrase that...have you ever felt like you have so many ideas and possibilities in front of you that all you can think about is all those ideas and possibilities?

You may be familiar with the concept of decision fatigue - where you have so many options in front of you that you don’t know which one to choose (think Netflix movie night). This is a bit different. It’s more like possibility paralysis - you start to think of all the things you can envision for the future, the next steps in your endeavour, the potential ways to add on or improve the thing you’re starting - I call it the “the possibilities are endless” mind trap. 

While this kind of brainstorming can be fun, empowering, and prudent for planning purposes, it can also be a stall tactic. If all you can think about is the destination, when will you actually start the journey? And if you don’t figure out how to put one foot in front of the other, how will you ever reach that destination of your dreams?

If all you can think about is the destination, when will you actually start the journey?

Using all your energy to envision the future leaves none to spend on making that future a reality. At some point you must come back down to earth and examine where you are right now, then assess what should come next.

I’ve found there is a best-of-both-worlds solution to possibility paralysis. Give yourself the uninhibited freedom to daydream and brainstorm your future, but put a timeframe around it. Also, be sure to share your dreams and all the hopes you have only with trusted loved ones. This will protect the possibilities you're exploring from negative influence and doubt. 

Ask yourself...what will be the foundation for all of these possibilities to build on? 

Then, when you’ve let your mind go to the expanses of the universe, ground yourself again in the present. Focus on today. Ask yourself, what do I do first? What will be the foundation for all of these possibilities to build on? Start a new brainstorming session where you plan out your first step, then your second, and so on. Now you have a true focal point to begin your work.

The possibilities truly are endless, but each one takes work and dedication. Focus on what to work on first and build your future one step at a time.