6 Steps to Beating Overwhelm and Achieving Your Goal

Have you ever had a dream, idea or goal that seemed so out of your comfort zone you just became overwhelmed, frozen and didn't even start?  

I feel that so many times about business, creative projects, fitness/health and even relationships.  I find that the root of my problem is a false belief that whatever I have to do has to be perfect.  And if it isn't perfect, everyone will know. 

So I came up with 6 ways to beating overwhelm and achieving your goal that have worked for me:  

1. Research the heck out of your topic.  Now, don't do this for like 5 years and then start... give yourself a limit and a deadline for research..  And when you do stop, be okay with what you know.  You'll learn everything in time, I promise.  While you're researching, be sure to take time and just be.  Soak in and process all that you've been learning. Research equips you with confidence, knowledge, inspiration and can even connect you with other people who have gone before you.  

2. Connect with other people who have done it.  That may be finding bloggers or speakers through social media etc.  You don't have to email them or even interact, but follow them (the introvert way).  Observe what they do.  And if you're extroverted (unlike me) ask them questions and see if they will help you. 

3.  Be okay with the fact that you won't remember everything.  Listening in on webinars, reading blogs, observing those who have what you want... you're going to take in a lot of information and not everything will stick.  When I read things or attend a webinar I usually walk away with 2 things that really stuck with me.  And in my opinion, that makes it worth it.  I now have two things I'm excited about.  I can put these into practice and fully understand how they fit into my vision.

4.  This one sounds bad at first but bear with me... Find people you idealize and find their flaws. I have so many bloggers and people that I idealize and think, "man, they know EVERYTHING".  But the more you interact and watch them, the more you see that they make mistakes and the more that "perfect" start to your dream or goal becomes realistic.  Now, I'm not saying to follow everyone you love and find reasons to hate them.  I mean find their flaws and see why it makes them real, authentic and awesome human people... and why that can be you too. 

5. I love listening on periscope (currently obsessed... anyone else?) or webinars and hearing, "when we first started....".  That means they've changed.  That means they started out and it wasn't perfect so they re-evaluated and found a way to make what they do better.  You don't have to start by being perfect.  You just have to start by being you and figuring out how you work best. Don't ever be afraid to change if it can make you better and achieve your goals. 

6. No one will know.  No one will know you "did it wrong" or you weren't perfect because frankly... probably no one will notice unless you tell them a play by play.  And also, most people will just think you're learning and trying new things to achieve your goal.  I tend to tell myself that everyone sees every mistake I make... or that there is some secret billboard out there that has a new catchy headline announcing each of my failures.  "Girl tries new thing and decides to try a different thing." yep. that's definitely news worthy. jk no one cares, and neither should you.  Learn from your mistakes and don't let the fear of failing stop you.  

Don't psych yourself out.  This goal, this dream or idea... it could be what you were made to do.  And you'll never know until you stop being frozen (seriously, Elsa, stop.) and start doing something. 

Do you have other tips that help you beat the overwhelm before starting on the path to achieve a new goal?  Tell me!  Please, I'd love to know... especially if they include chocolate. 

There's only one you, and you're the best. 

Love, 

The Lovely Adventurer

Clear The Stage: Weekend Challenge

I think that if I only wrote when I was feeling pumped and excited, it would be a disservice to the mission of The Lovely Adventure. 

"...share our lovely adventures with genuine and transparent hearts that inspire others to live the lives they were created for."

Some days it's hard to find the lovely... especially on a Friday after a crazy long week. And this has definitely been a long week... anyone else?  Hellooooooo 3 day weekend.  I love you.  

I have the words to this song by Jimmy Needham on repeat in my head.  It's a Christian song, but even if you aren't a believer or don't know what you believe... I really encourage you to listen to it.  I think it really calls me to simplify my life and get back to that center soft spot in my heart.  For me, that's my love for the God who chose me, has chosen you and who I try to live my life in thankfulness for. 

Anything I put before my God is an idol.  Gosh dang, that line brings me to tears every dang time. I get so caught up in busy, in trying to build this little business, in juggling life and I never just sit down and clear my stage.  Clear it down to the basics, stop giving my time to things that might be currently draining me and give my time to things that are life giving. 

 I've been thinking a lot about this little lovely adventure of mine the past few weeks.  

What my mission is, why I'm doing it and what I want it to become.  I don't know a lot, I still have a million ideas swirling around in my head but here is what I do know...  

-I want this to be a place where you can find a genuine friend and a transparent heart

-I want to encourage you to find a lovely adventure and choose joy in your life each day

-I don't want to just tell you words that are easier said than done, I want to give you tools and I want to do it with you. 

That last sentence made me all weepy.  I think it's because I want it right in that soft spot center of my heart.  I want to have adventures and choose joy with you, sweet friends.  

I still want to create things but in the next few months I hope to create some things that are tools we can use together to find joy and daily adventures.  

So, here's my challenge to you for this three day weekend: Clear your stage.  Not for the whole weekend (let's be real... errbody got plans) but even just for 5 or 10 minutes.  Just be. Be you. Clear your thoughts, write them down if you have to.  Try to find that soft spot center of your heart and think about what it really wants.  

Figure out one way you can get that.  One tangible, achievable way you can get what your heart truly wants.  Maybe that's talking to a friend, maybe it's forgiving someone, maybe it's doing something you've been telling yourself you couldn't do.  Clear your stage and then go after what really matters. 

My heart will be seeking a beautiful God who loves me to my core, even when I don't believe it.  Even when I'm mad or I forget His goodness.  His stage is always clear for me.  For me to fill with all my baggage and my tears and my thoughts and my dreams.  And he takes it all, sends it back behind the curtains and tells me to just be for a while.  He can handle the show.  

That's what I hope my weekend is.  And friends, I hope you find those daily lovely adventures.  I hope you find joy in those sweet moments that can't ever be replicated.  I hope you take time to clear your stage.  Why?  Because you're worth it.  You really, really are.

I love you sweet friends and I hope you go into this weekend feeling encouraged to be genuine, transparent and to choose joy.  

There's only one you.  That's why you're the best. 

Love, 

The Lovely Adventurer

Do Scary Things

Yesterday I posted this picture on Instagram .  This quote is in The Lovely Adventure mission statement and it's been something I've carried around with me for years. 

I went to college thinking I would get a degree, earn the big bucks and change the world.  Turns out, college revealed everything I wasn't good at (math, test taking, memorizing, reading large amounts and comprehension).  I thoroughly hated the academia of college. I wouldn't trade my friends and social experiences for the world, so in the end I'm glad I went. But also in the end, I had no idea who I was or what the heck I was going to do with my life.  Gifts? Did I have those? According to my college GPA and test scores, no.  No, I did not.  So, after college I wandered.  I worked at camp, which I loved.  My husband (boyfriend at the time) had moved to the United States for a job and that fall I followed.  We worked for the same YMCA resort, he did challenge adventures and I did outdoor education.  It wasn't my favorite job in the world, but, I did discover that I was good at being creative, hard working and people generally liked me as a human (always good to know).  

I got engaged that fall on a trip to Australia and that winter of 2010 in the off season I started this little crafty adventure of mine.  I discovered this love for handmade, re-purposing and teaching myself new skills.  

I went on to work full time at Heartland Camp after we were married in the fall of 2011 (I could write a whole novel on how much I love that place... I'll save that for another day).  That job gave me the freedom to discover that I loved design.  I loved graphic design, web design and event design.  I was pretty good at leadership (always room to grow) and I just hardcore love being part of a community and learning people's stories. I don't think I would have ever learned those things about myself had God not opened doors for me and had I not mustered up the courage to walk through. I'm all teary just thinking about it. How much I love how God has called me out of my box and said, "Andrea, you were made for so much more than this." 

Some days I struggle to believe it. Most days. Most days I want to curl up under a blanket and stop pushing my boundaries. Get a "real" job, stop trying to learn new things and just be safe.  But the truth is, it makes me feel alive. My soul craves creativity and design and learning new things. Starting this business has been the hardest and best thing I've ever done. And as soon as I want to throw in the towel, stop "wasting" our money and give up, God gives me a new idea. Or sends me someone who inspires me.  I have yet to hit a dead end.  And for me, always the pessimist, who is usually searching for the dead ends or an excuse to stop, that's pretty remarkable. 

Living the life you were created for doesn't really have an end or a golden answer. Living. It's a verb, it's continuous while we are blessed with life. Don't let your doubts or who the world says you should be create your box.  Turn that dang box into a spaceship and send it to the moon, you won't need it. Life is full of freedom without it. It's full of struggle and doubts and tears, too. But, when you aren't trying to fit in a box that you weren't created for in the first place, it's full of discovering who a boxless God created you to be. 

It's also worth noting who God didn't create you to be.  I thought I was meant to be a top of my class PHD psychologist.  Because that was successful (and really, it is...just not for me).  Coming to terms with the fact that my brain doesn't comprehend math, it can really only learn kinestetically and that my introverted tendencies are sometimes my best has changed my life. When you stop trying to fit into that box, you find you didn't really like it in there anyway.  

So here's to living the lives we were created for.  To giving up our boxes and pushing our boundaries. Here's to doing scary things (even if they are small) and figuring out how to be the best you.  You have something special to share with the world. There is only one of you and someone needs what you have.  Find it and don't stop sharing your story. 

Love,

The Lovely Adventurer

P.s. You're the best