Successful Sunday, August 25th, 2024

Hello, Subscribers. One of my former leaders told us it's not worth doing if it isn’t fun. This forms the core philosophy of my weekly writings and will help you prepare for the week through the power of play to set yourself up for success. As your guide, I believe incorporating play into your daily routine can enhance your creativity, problem-solving skills, and overall well-being, leading to personal and professional growth. I glean insights from my inner child about behaviors and patterns and can help you do the same. Let’s get set up for success. This is my last edition because I am taking a vacation from LinkedIn in September. Want this weekly newsletter delivered directly to your mailbox? Sign up and never miss a week.

It’s time for an accountability check-in. I promised my therapist “No New Things” for this week. I often fill up my schedule with shiny objects and wonder why I get so overwhelmed. I think I was mostly successful. I did maybe one new thing to help a friend since I was already attending the event. My Thursday night audio room was fun, and my daughter agreed to co-host the final one this week. The Neuroverse Virtual Summit was a resounding success, with people responding positively to my talk. It was wonderful to feel welcomed and that I added value. I enjoyed a day off and great family time playing games with my kids and cousins. Tired of being beaten by the five-year-old in Q-bitz, I tapped in my engineer son and he turned the tide ??

Let’s try an experiment. I will ask you some questions about the TGROW model, which is an adaptation of the GROW model by Myles Downey. These questions are designed to help you focus on your goals and take action. Ready?

What would you like to focus on?

What do you want to achieve?

Describe the current situation.

What are your options?

Now, it's time to take action. What steps will you take to bring your goals to life? The TGROW model is a powerful tool to guide your actions and keep you on track. Ready to make a change?

My answers:

What would you like to focus on? My 30 days of connection project

What do you want to achieve? I want to have a viable product ready to print

Describe the current situation. It’s eighty percent complete. I need to add instructions.

What are your options? I can set aside time to work on it, I can delegate, I can give up.

What action will you take? I will schedule time on my calendar to finish it.

Now, let’s try this again using visuals. Today, I am using Pokémon cards. I am reflecting on the week ahead. What would you like to focus on?

The first card is the Dark Energy card. It’s a deep navy-blue card with a glowing navy-blue sphere containing a black stylized crescent moon. When I think of dark energy, I think of how it is used in science. It is an unseen force that works as the opposite of gravity. Where do I want to grow and expand, and what hidden undercurrents come into play? Next week is pretty busy because my team is holding training, and I did agree to a new thing because no one expects a funeral. How do I keep it together when external forces seem to pull me in many different directions? Do you feel as if you are being pulled in many different directions?

What do you want to achieve?

Per Bulbapedia, “Inkay is a blue, squid-like Pokémon. It has a transparent mantle with a rounded pink body inside that has several yellow circular spots that can glow brightly.” Two transparent tentacles are attached to the mantle; the other six are part of its main body. Inkay uses the light show to tantalize and drain its opponents. What comes to mind is wanting to reduce distractions to focus on your goals. How can you pare down all the shiny objects and stay on track?

Describe the current situation.

Drowzee resembles a bipedal tapir. It has a yellow body, and the coloration makes it appear to be wearing brown pants. It is walking along the beach. When you walk in the sand, there is resistance. It is considered a more engaging workout versus walking on solid land. Perhaps we want our life to be a dream, but we encounter obstacles that make it more difficult. Drowzee feeds on dreams. Returning to our Dark Energy card, what are the unseen challenges, or who are the unseen actors feeding on our energy?

What are your options?

We get the water energy Pokémon card. This is a blue card with a glowing blue sphere containing a stylized black water droplet. I feel the drop of water embodies the idea of potentiality. It also reminds me of a tadpole or other symbol of the start of life. I need to overcome procrastination to accomplish my goals. What are some potential solutions? I can book time on my calendar or put my phone in airplane mode. I can also set timers to keep me on task. I can’t forget the importance of scheduling play breaks. Water reinforces getting under the surface and diving into root causes.

Finally, what action will we take?

Magikarp is “the most weak and pathetic Pokémon in the world. It flails about and is pictured gasping near a lure. Magikarp is an orange carp with yellow fins and appears to be gasping for air even though underwater. It is incredibly resistant to pollution and evolves into the mighty Gyarados. If you are flailing about, recognize your weakness. Name it. Call it out, and then come up with a plan. You can become a more powerful version of yourself, but you must own your shortcomings. For example, I waste time doom scrolling instead of working on pending projects. I regularly ignore my decompression time. This often results in me floundering and not getting the results I want. What comes to mind is someone splashing about dramatically in the water because they think they are drowning, and then someone tells them to stand up. Stand up. You are the boss of you. Acknowledge your potential and get ready to take action. What are you going to do?

Metaphor brainstorming is a powerful tool to help you dive deeper and uncover the undercurrents. I still want to work on my Thirty Days of Connection project, and I have a better understanding of the potential pitfalls.

If you are flailing around, please contact me if you wish to incorporate play into your day to spark creative ideas and get unstuck.

I am running a fundraiser to help get my friend Robin Divine to Mexico. If you book and complete an Overcoming Overwhelm in 15 Minutes session, all proceeds will go to her efforts.