On wanting to do a thing, but not doing the thing

On wanting to do thing, but not doing the thing

I want to do 11 simple tasks.

So why am I not doing them?

I just don't want to

Ummm no, I know you DO want to.

I do want it done. I don't want to do it.

Don't you want it done MORE THAN you want to not do it?

No, obviously. Or else we wouldn't be here.

Right.

I don't want to do it. End of discussion.

No, actually, that's the beginning of the discussion.

Heavy, dramatic sigh.

This is the work. We know this. We've got to keep showing up, and our next steps for showing up are doing these 11 things.

ARGGGGGH!

Yeah, you can feel that way about it, that's valid. But I am REALLY curious WHY you feel that way about these particular tasks.

[draws a blank]

It's interesting, isn't it? Because these tasks are actually enjoyable. So I don't think it's true that you LITERALLY don't want to do them. I think you want to do the task AND ALSO there is something about COMPLETING these tasks that you are resisting.

Ugggghhhhhh.

Yeah, that's how it feels, to shine a light on resistance.

My back and shoulders are all stiff now. Can we just have lunch?

We can have lunch right way, but before lunch we have to work this out. We can't keep avoiding these tasks all day.

I think we can.

And then what?

Then the whole project gets delayed.

Oh, so you don't want to do the project.

I mean I want it to happen, I just don't want to be the one doing it.

That is a FASCINATING attitude to have about your own creative work. Who else would do it?

I just want to be done, I don't want to be doing.

Is that even true? Feels like a "resistance trying to make things more complicated than they are and saying ridiculous things to do so" kind of vibe.

No, of course it's not true. Of course I like to do this task, and I want to do it, and I'm just terrified that this will flop.

There it is. Can we deal with the terror? I really don't want to circle around it all day in avoidance, I want to just get this done.

OK. I am terrified of doing my best, and it being a flop and that meaning that I AM a flop and then then not having any options for what to do next. This is a sharp, painful sensation in my chest.

Let's offer it some light, healing, love, patience, validity and acceptance.

[we do this... the sharp sensation turns to candy floss]

And now?

I still feel like there are a ton of excuses to not do this, I can just juggle them all day.

OR

I can start doing these 11 tasks.

And then a lightbulb went off in my mind.

I was starting with the most logical one to start with, which is the one I am stuck with. How about starting with the easiest one to do?

Oh, sure, I can do that.

✨✨✨✨✨

These are notes from the Un-Sticking Station in my Dream Book from a few days ago.

Since then, I finished those 11 tasks which meant I could start the Goodbye 2021 Hello 2022 Journaling EXTRAVAGANZA on time, yesterday.

This is the inner work that makes the outer work possible. Dream Book offers the support to keep showing up, and keep doing this work consistently enough to get the momentum you need with your dreams.

Join us here.

On wanting to do a thing, but not doing the thing

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