I created a lovely plan that would have helped me accomplish a lot this year and now I don’t even want to look at it.

It’s printed out in fancy type but I have the urge to rip it out of my planner… But I *love* my new planner. It’s pretty. So at least that makes me happy. That spreadsheet at the end, however, may have to go.

I know it’s one of the Monsters in my head saying stuff like:

“Well, now that everything’s planned out, you can’t deviate from the plan because you KNOW what happens when you deviate from the plan… Besides, you have it on paper AND on your computer so it’s set in stone. And you know how you get when things don’t go the way you expect so you better buckle down and do all this stuff now. No room for slacking off and daydreaming.”


Which actually ended up with me in a near-panic, feeling stifled & suffocated.

Definitely not a good sign, I don’t think.

So… My “plan” is on hold while I sort out the Monster in my head and get to the bottom of why I’m feeling this way.  I have a feeling it has something to do with the fact that I’m a Scanner and tend to lean right (brain, that is).

And that this is the first time I’ve ever planned anything out in this detail on my own.

And I think my creative brain is rebelling against all this structure… But my left brain which was pretty dominant during my younger years is forcefully reminding me that without structure I don’t get much done (but what is “done?”).

I think I’ll go read a few different perspectives on this whole goal setting thing…

How to Make Unstupid Goals: Naomi’s current series on goals is making me focus on what *I* want.

Tuning Into Your Essence: Jen Louden has a magical way of calming me down & tuning back in to what’s really important.

Put Things Off and Do Nothing to Get More Done: A bit counter-intuitive, eh? But it makes sense. Those of us whose primary work is creative require LOTS of down time – not busy work – to let those epiphanies bubble to the surface in their own time. I think if I slow down a bit, I’ll be surprised at what comes up…

Why People Hate Productivity: Jonathan Mead says to Focus on Fulfillment, Create Value and Follow Your Natural Rhythms. I’ll have to read this one a few more times to figure out how to apply this to me, but it sounds a bit more free & open with enough structure that it may just work.

And just because it’s soup season, most of the US & the Northern Hemisphere is in the middle of an ice age, and because it’s all about comfort: Four Warm & Cozy Soups.

photo credit: ripkas