Business owners are especially prone to overwhelm because it’s not uncommon for them to juggle multiple aspects of their business at any one time. But how much of what you think you need to handle do you actually need to handle?
What if overwhelm is actually part of your self-sabotaging behavior being played out?
Overwhelm is not a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur - it’s a symptom of an underlying issue. In three easy steps, you can find out if self-sabotaging behavior is creating unnecessary overwhelm in your business and life.
Step #1: Consider the Why
When you understand why you do anything, you discover why you do everything. From understanding the “why,” it’s possible to see the patterns of self-sabotaging behavior being played out in your everyday life. (Yes, creating overwhelm is one of those self-sabotaging behaviors.)
If you frequently or consistently struggle with overwhelm, there may be a self-sabotaging behavior behind it. The trick is to identify the “why” behind the self-sabotage. Common reasons for overwhelm may include:
· Behavior based in limiting beliefs
· Fear of failure/success
· Lack of focus/discipline
· Avoidance/procrastination
· Lack of interest/inspiration/motivation
· Refusal to give up total control/delegate
There is a “why” behind everything you do - or don’t do. The question is are you engaging in behavior being driven by limiting beliefs that lead to self-sabotage or empowering beliefs that lead to your success? It’s pretty simple: if you’re not producing results you want, you can bet there are self-sabotaging behaviors being played out in your personal and/or professional life.
First, let’s establish that everyone has self-sabotaging behaviors - even peak performers like professional athletes and Olympic competitors (which is why they hire professional coaches!). These specialized coaches help them identify (and shift) the behaviors that keep them from achieving optimal performance.
When you know the self-sabotaging behaviors that are keeping you from achieving the best results, you know which behaviors must change in order to create even better results. It’s fairly easy to know what you should be doing…it’s not always so easy to discipline yourself to do those things. However, when you can identify self-sabotaging behaviors and discipline yourself to change them, success will come easier and faster.
Step #2. There Is Another Way
Overwhelm is not a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur, it’s a symptom of an underlying issue.
Most people are stuck in self-sabotaging behaviors because they can’t see that there is another way. It’s the definition of insanity: doing the same activities over and over again and expecting different results.
The distance between where you are and where you want to be can be a short and straight path when you know the right actions to take - at the right time, and on a consistent basis. It’s when you’re not taking the right steps that the path to success feels like a constant zig-zag path of push-and-pull, struggle and frustration.
This is when taking different actions (or non-actions) next time around and observing how your results change is invaluable. Are the results better or worse? Log your progress in a simple tracking sheet to determine what’s working and what isn’t working. Keep doing what works well, while continuing to tweak what doesn’t. Eventually, you’ll learn the right things you need to do at the right time to produce the shortest and straightest path between where you are and where you want to be.
Step #3. Focus on the NEXT Step
Another common reason for overwhelm is focusing on everything. In other words, you may be focused on the massive undertaking of the big picture - and everything that must be accomplished to reach your goal. Of course, you’re going to feel overwhelm when you think about the responsibility, work, risk, and commitment of the big picture - it’s overwhelming for most people!
In the midst of overwhelm - just stop. Literally stop what you’re doing. Get up and move. Go outside, take a break, go for a run, take a shower; whatever you can do to distract your current train of thought.
Yes, the big picture does matter to a degree, but in this particular moment, it’s not as important as the NEXT step. Worrying or stressing about how you’re going to manage (or control) every piece of the big picture only causes overwhelm and anxiety. You can’t control the future, you can only control this moment, your actions, and your thoughts.
For right now, just focus on the NEXT most important activity you must do in order to move closer to accomplishing your goals. Breaking things down into smaller and more manageable steps and then creating a game plan to make progress to the bigger goals will help reduce the feeling of overwhelm. Ask yourself this simple question: What is the most important activity I must do, right now, to lead me where I want to be? When you receive an answer, don’t hesitate - act on it. Consistently execute your game plan and achieve what you deserve in life.
Download my Are Your Limiting Beliefs Stopping You from Achieving Your Goals? Guidebook now by going to https://bit.ly/Limiting-Beliefs-Book.
For more help with overwhelm, reach out to me today and schedule your complimentary consultation.
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