Catch.
Lately, a number of clients have been feeling overwhelmed. You too?
Overwhelmed at work, overwhelmed at home, overwhelmed with life. One client even quoted a comic and suggested she’d be happy feeling “whelmed”- not overwhelmed, not underwhelmed, Just whelmed.
Each story presents similarly: I can’t catch my breath, there isn’t enough time, there are too many demands, I am being pulled in every direction, and I am losing steam. I need a break (but I can’t take one because I am the only who can do all this).
In those same stories, 2 patterns emerge:
They begin to notice a pattern of control. They are the one who is managing, fixing and solving each element.
There is always “a problem“. Meaning- here’s the story, here’s the good part- here’s where it goes awry.
What information do these patterns present? Is it a question of doing or being? What’s the difference?
Superficially it’s a catch 22. You’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t (In your mind at least).
If you don’t do it- problem will happen faster.
If you do do it- something else may drop.
Sound familiar?
In these circumstances, I like to play a game of catch. This game requires the client to begin catching themselves when they a) are trying to take on more than is necessary, when it could be delegated and/or b) catching themselves seeking out the ‘problem’ in each situation.
Playing catch is step 1 of a multi step conversation.
How do you do it: Begin to catch yourself in these scenarios. Catch the control and catch the problem seeking. The purpose for catching these is to increase your self-awareness.
Simply notice. That’s it.
“At work today, i knew it was going to be a bad day because Bob wasn’t in and then I was the only one to make sure that everything ran smoothly”
Just notice. Catch. Practice step 1. At the beginning you will catch some, you will miss some. That’s okay. The more you begin to hear yourself- the more you will listen. The more you listen- the more self aware you become. And then- we can move into part 2.
Let’s play ball!