Do Something!

An American In Switzerland

Welcome back to an ongoing series of weekly reflections on the tiny shifts that change everything

Dry laid stone walls that go on for kilometers

Two weeks ago, I wasn’t sure what to do next. Now I wake up knowing what I have to do and why I want to do it. My day-to-day schedule helps get me up and get me going, keeps me on track throughout the day, and leaves me feeling like I’ve "done enough” and can relax at the end of the day.

Following my own advice from two weeks ago—to let go of needing to know what’s next, step into that not-knowing, and then respond to whatever emerges, is part of what got me moving. But I forgot an important part—doing something every day, no matter how small, to move toward what I want.

What emerged as I let go and stepped into not knowing was wanting to learn French, continue to build my coaching practice, visit the Pacific Northwest before it starts raining, and take advantage of whatever summer is left here before we fly to the states at the end of the month.

Yes it was really that green on our ride through Gstaad

Unlike some, knowing what I want has come easy to me over the years. What’s been more elusive is creating sustained action toward the wants and dreams that deeply matter to me, as I’ve struggled for years to organize my time around anything.

One of my challenges is having more wants than I have time to accomplish. By starting to move towards each one, even in small ways, it became clear I had to choose which were the most important if I wanted to commit to doing whatever was needed to turn each want into a reality. Once I matched my list of commitments to my calendar, I had my plan of action. I know this is just a beginning, and I have a lot to learn about sustaining my momentum, but it feels like I’ve found a process that works for me. My way will not be your way, but I invite you to try it as a place to start the next time you feel stuck or distracted or simply want to redirect your life.

Mont Blanc from the Jura

1) Figure out what you want so badly that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to get it 2) Get crystal clear on why you want it 3) Commit to making it happen 4) Get into action by doing something every day to move toward what you want. If you give it a go, I think you’ll get results and have a lot of fun, but your results may vary. On a different note, I'm looking for participants for a research project designed to explore the value of coaching beyond workplace challenges and opportunities. If you are interested in being part of my study, please email me.