I just did something liberating.
I unsubscribed from 75% of the email lists I’m now on. Why? I’m burnt out. Burnt out from virtual conference calls. Burnt out from free offerings from talented and well-meaning others. Burnt out from trying to locate the appropriate virtual link at the very last minute before the conference call begins.
Stress comes in many forms. And we’re in a bold new land of stress. Research tells us that four decades ago we’d be willing to wait two whole minutes for an elevator. Now (if we happen to still have access to an elevator), we become agitated after a mere :30 seconds. And in this new landscape, go ahead, shave off another :05-:10, I’m willing to bet.
Our attention span has shrunk. Our agitation has risen. New tools! Protocols! Links! Upgrades!
What do I need? is a simple question, but perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s sometimes difficult to get at. On the one hand, we might wonder if “what do I need?” is a selfish question or an indulgence. And on the other, there’s simply too much mental clutter in the way to even find it.
What do I need?! I don’t even know what day it is!
But knowing what we need is critical to feeling a sense of agency and to maintaining our resiliency; to feeling more control in a world that seems to have lost control.
When we get quiet enough—when we slow things down enough--we can hear that voice that asks, “what do I need?” We may not know the answer at first, or the answer may surprise us for its simplicity. “Unsubscribe.” “Take a nap.” “Make a phone call.” “Ask for help.” Small is beautiful. Small steps—any step—has big impact.
Knowing the first step will help us back into a sense of control. Which feeds our psychological and physiological bottom line. Which means, more creativity, better capacity for problem solving, deeper connection to self and others. Which gives us more choice.
Control over the things we can control is life changing.
What do you need at this time?