…. is it just me that wonders why sometimes I don’t get things done that I’d really like to do?! I thought not!
Let’s dig into what’s going on there. Let me share a little…
I am an incredibly creative person, yet often I don’t activate those creative outlets in ways I would like to. Let me introduce to you to my chair project.
When we moved into our new house, I made a commitment to myself to have free reign to have a go at upcycling. This honours so many of my values – my desire to live simply, to enjoy the process of being creative, to personalise and to make things better on a small budget – yet the chairs did not change for 6 months. As a well-known ‘activator queen’, what was going on there?
Perfectionism
Personally I don’t drive for perfectionism, but I realise that people who are likely to use these chairs do. I didn’t want friends and family to think I’d not shown care to the project, so best not to start. I care deeply that people feel welcome and relaxed in my home.
Honour – Wanting Others To Be Proud
In my quest to learn where on earth to start upcycling these chairs, I went to see a lovely local upholsterer who showed incredible kindness in teaching me how to do one. We spent two hours and the outcome was incredible. Yet also, I had other feelings of ‘whatever I do won’t be to this standard / there is no way she will be proud of what I manage / best not to start…’
It Means Too Much
Maybe my example of chairs is stretching it here, but honestly, what was going on in my mind was that it means so much to me that my home honours who I am, a creative, welcoming host. It absolutely delights my heart to have my table full of people to feed and I want my home to be a haven for my family and all who enter it. It matters deeply to me, so best not to start…
So, I entered the ‘do nothing’ option. To do nothing is a choice, not an absence or a decision. This evoked a feeling of guilt for me with the fact that I have all the resources to do this, the knowledge, the materials, the desire, yet I haven’t. I felt stuck.
So what changed?
Guilt is not a feeling I want to operate from. It is instead a signpost to what’s really going on and what is important.
I really care about this. Even though to others it might just be a chair, to me it symbolises a desire to embrace my love of being creative and creating a haven of a home for others on a resourceful budget.
Aha.
Spoiler alert: the chairs are upcycled, and I LOVE them! I love that I celebrated the way God made me in the process.
So what shifted?
Decide To Have Fun!
We often forget about that as adults! I decided I had more to lose in doing nothing than having a go. My chairs literally have my fingerprints on, rather than seeking for never attainable perfectionism.
Set a Timer For 25 Minutes
Just see what’s possible in the time you have. Turn off distractions – no don’t make one more coffee before you start – just go for it. There can be a danger in thinking ‘I need a huge block of time to even start that’, but it’s just not true.
Have a go!
I decided to honour ‘having a go’, not aiming for this to be the project that wins the prize for incredible upholstery! My chairs brought me freedom to have a go, and if my children spill anything on them, I’m fine with it because I have freedom to change them with my newfound love of a staple gun!
More Information Required?
Sometimes we need to ask ourselves, ‘Is there more information I need?’ For me, I had it all, I just needed to get going. But this is a good question and getting going could look like finding vital information out.
Accountability
Accountability is vital. It can be as small as asking a friend to ask how it’s going, or even making a note in your diary to check another week doesn’t go by without action. Also I know that for me, deciding how I will celebrate when it’s done is a huge motivator.
For me, it’s bigger than me. When I find I’m procrastinating about something, I often think, ‘what do I want my children to pick up about this’, as so much of what they learn is picked up rather than taught. I want my children to have freedom in having a go, enjoying the process of being creative, whatever that looks like for them. There is real joy in the personalised (is this the opposite of perfection, maybe?). It goes wider still, I don’t just want this for my children, I want it for all I engage with.
So what do you think about reading this? Does it shed light on a situation or project that you are facing? Something you would love to see happen, but just hasn’t been realised?
To be honest, I’ve procrastinated about writing a blog on procrastination! How ironic! But I had an hour on a train and thought ‘let’s have fun’. I only need to get it to draft state and here we go. I hope you feel it was worth me pushing through the feelings to get it written. The same will be true of you. Time to get started…