Question: Once you’re aware of the possibilities of being “indestructible” by having the intention to do the best thing in a given moment (Chapter 19 of Ready for Anything), how do you manage the newfound fear that, if you’re not intending the best thing in a given moment, you’re missing out on potential gain? Which makes you feel like you “have to” do the best thing all the time?

David Allen’s answer: Why would that question be on your mind? Simple answer: because some part of you thinks or assumes that there are other things you would/could/should be aware of, have done, or be doing, that you’re not. How do you clean that up? Get the complete list of the “other things” and take a look. If you’ve truly captured, clarified, and organized all of that, and stepped back from an appropriate horizon and taken a look, and still feel bad about not knowing what to do, then you’re probably familiar with that kind of feeling, and you’ll tend to slip into that familiar territory, no matter what your situation. Once you can no longer blame some unknown thing—OMG, what am I not doing?—you’ll get the opportunity to address some more subtle stuff, if you care to. Lightening up, with a sense of humor, is the hallmark of productivity maturity!

Tags: Bookshelf, David Allen, Getting Things Done, GTD Times Team - Staff Contributors, Implementation, Inspiration //
1 Comment »