Shifting from Have to to Get to
I woke up on Sunday morning panicked because I had so much to do:
Planning for the week
Cleaning and pulling my house back together
Post and engage meaningfully on LinkedIn
Finishing a weekly email for my journaling membership program
Writing this newsletter
And about fifty three projects I want to
finishwork on
While part of me wanted to spring out of bed and get started, most of me wanted to close my eyes, pull my covers over my head, and go back to bed so I didn’t have to do anything.
It’s not that I didn’t want to do anything, per se.
It’s that I woke up with a case of the have tos.
“I have to vacuum the floor.”
”I have to post something meaningful on LinkedIn.”
”I have to write this newsletter.”
No wonder I didn’t want to get started!
So I took a few deep breaths and gave myself a whole lot of grace.
I pulled out my journal and asked myself this important question:
“Amanda, of all the things on your list, which ones are must dos, and which are just nice to dos?”
I thought for a minute and realized only one of them, the email for my journaling membership program, actually needed to get done.
Planning would make my life easier this week. Fortunately a quick skim through my calendar reminded me that it’s a really light week. And there were no appointments I had forgotten about. Phew! Planning complete.
Cleaning the house would make it nicer to live here this week. But it doesn’t have to be all or northing. I cleared off the surfaces that were most bothering me, took the vacuum for a spin, and made my bed. Voila! Instant improvement!
Posting and engaging on LinkedIn is always part of my morning routine. I missed Saturday and felt this sense of pressure to come up with something meaningful to say. I came up with nothing. So I left thoughtful comments on a dozen or so posts, and called it good for the day.
Writing this newsletter each Sunday is a joy when I make it a get to. When it slides into the have to column, it loses some of it’s sparkle. So I gave myself permission to not write with that attitude. If I missed a week, the world would still continue to turn. And that’s what it took to let go.
Instead of spending the bulk of my day doing all the things, I spent it outside working with my husband to make space in the garage for this baby:
Friends, meet Günter. Günter is a 1973 VW 412 that my husband and father-in-law have brought home to restore. The plan is to take it to their favorite VW show each summer. My plan is to make it my flower wagon the summer after next, taking it to farmer’s markets to sell flowers out of the back of it.
Getting outside in the fresh air all day, getting in SO many steps, putting the garage to rights, was so refreshing. I visited with my in-laws for a while, and, after they left, I relaxed for a bit in my hammock.
And by “relax”, I really mean “nap”.
I napped in my hammock.
For a long time.
Know what happened when I woke up?
Writing this newsletter became a get to again!
It truly is amazing what happens when I give myself grace, I’m really clear on what’s important, and I don’t try to do it all.
When I do, the things that need to get done get done. And I feel good about what I accomplish. Just like magic!
Use these prompts as written or as inspiration to uncover what you need in your life this week. And know that I’m always here to support you and answer questions you have along the way!
What does giving yourself grace look like?
Are you clear about what on your list is a have to and what is a get to?
How can you move from have to to get to so you can find joy in what you’re doing?
More Good Stuff
I’m trying something different on this week’s livestream show - journaling live! Bring your journal and journal with me! Tune in on Tuesday at 8pm Eastern on LinkedIn, YouTube, or Facebook.
Happy Journaling!
Love the VW!
One time someone said something to me along the lines of “getting to” being a privilege that some don’t have. But I disagreed. “Getting to” is a mindset that anyone can have, from any background, from anywhere.
I lost my baby sister about 16 years ago & whenever I start to feel overwhelmed or flustered about what I “have” to do, I remind myself to be thankful I “get to” do them. Her favorite line was, “live life to the fullest” so I try to do that as often as I can!
I really needed to read this today!
Such a good reminder to just BE - instead of always focusing on the DO!