CHILL AND FOCUS ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS

Every fall I spiral into this crazy spot where I question everything about my work life. Am I doing the right thing? Is there something else out there I should be doing? Is what I’m doing enough? What would happen if I quit it all, sold everything, moved to a Caribbean beach and sold coconuts? These seasons of discontent come for all of us. What can we do when we are feeling this way? 

If you’re feeling discontent, anxious or generally grumpy, there’s probably more going on that you realize. It’s good to start with acknowledging the legitimacy of how you feel. It’s also good to identify any patterns in your feelings. Patterns often indicate a trigger or two.    

For me, the triggers include a combination of seasonal weather changes, the busyness of my fall work schedule, and the addition of a whole slew of parenting pieces that come with school being in full swing.   

What can we do when we feel this way? It helps to tell someone how you are feeling. Today I vented about it in an email and got a great response: “I think you’re thinking too much about it.” The rest of the message was something along the lines of, “Chill, you’re fine. Focus on what really matters.” All things I desperately needed to hear.   

When I take this advice – chill and focus on what really matters – everything in my brain seems to calm down. I also feel a sense of peace that I can only do so much in life, and, there’s only so much I am willing to do. I don’t have to do it all at work or at home.  

For each of us what really matters is going to be different. For me, at this life stage, I have four years left until my oldest goes to college – and I don’t want to work so hard I miss those years. I have just a few weeks left of enjoying being outside before the deep cold arrives – and I want to spend time talking to our friends and neighbors outside as kids play in piles of leaves.  

People matter. Intentionality matters. My work is important, but I’m only asked to do what one person can do, not more. Chill. Focus on what counts. You’ll find your anxiety lessens and all the questions of “is it enough?” disappear, because it is enough. 

Chill. Focus on what matters. You are enough.  

Keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant, Sarah Gibson, helps organizations leverage the power of communication, teamwork and diversity to improve engagement and transform teams. To buy her book or inquire about her speaking programs, please visit www.sarahjgibson.com.