. Thinking It Through

Recently, I had a more complex summer than any other in my life.  It was a time when I wouldn’t want to make any major mistakes, couldn’t leave things behind, and couldn’t retrace my steps without difficult challenges.  In order for things to work the very best for me and my family, I found the best skill to use was to “think it through”.  I usually did this at night when I began to worry.  Have I remembered everything?  Will I have what I need when I need it?  What will happen if I don’t think clearly?

From Worry To Thinking

When I moved from worry to “thinking it through”, I did a sort of role playing.  In my mind, I would get up in the specific “upcoming” morning I was worrying about and dress myself, thus confirming what clothes I needed to pack.  I would walk through what tools and materials I might need for my day’s activities, thus clarifying what I need to put aside for those needs.  I would walk through (in my head) the sequence of the day’s responsibilities, events, and pressures and see where I might have holes in my thought processes, preparations, and possibilities.

Several Needs at Once

You see, I have had a son return from a foreign country.  I have had another son marry out of state (a beautiful and marvelously intelligent young woman, my first “daughter”).  I have had a third son move to Columbus, Ohio to begin medical school who needed a navigator and companion for the trip.  I have had a fourth son graduate from the University of Georgia and wanted help moving to his new job at the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Be Ready Before

In addition to these many differing activities, I needed to make all these preparations before the first began because there wouldn’t be much time between events to mentally prepare for the next.  It would be “go, go, go” which is not conducive to thinking clearly.

You may have the same kind of pressure coming up in your life.  It might be as simple as a day trip to another city, or preparing for a presentation at the convention center, or planning what to pack for a small vacation.

Thinking it through, writing down your thoughts, and then going to work really took the strain from my summer.  It can do the same for you!  So when worry sets in, turn your mind to role playing and reasoning.  It can make all the difference.  And, if you do forget something, at least you will forget less than otherwise, and feel more confident with each day’s demands.

Find more helpful ideas in my House of Order Handbook.