The One Where I Move Forward No Matter What

In our group of StoryAthlete Partners we don’t talk so much about FOMO (fear of missing out) we focus on FDOQ (fear, depression, overwhelm and quit). Many of us suffer from FDOQ and don’t even know it.

I know my Lesser Self still fights this FDOQ struggle. When thinking of starting a new project or a different way to conduct business I fight a certain amount of fear.

Fear of not being successful, fear of the unknown, fear of failure. I’m certain you have had that feeling. It’s like starting a new school. Not sure if you will be accepted or even find the right classroom on time.

Then comes the depression. “I’ll never get this right. Why do I even try?” If you watch the nightly news you will see ads for all types of pills for depression. It’s a national epidemic.

Next, comes overwhelm. You may start the project but as my Mom would say, “You can’t see the woods for the trees.” Focusing on the minute details and not looking at the ten thousand-foot view. Feeling like you will never come out on the other side.

Finally is the quitting. Throwing up your hands and falling back into the comfortable 9 to 5 and figuring that you might as well be like everyone else.

You are not everyone else. You are meant for loftier goals. As Mark Twain said, “The secret to getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” Mind. Body. Business. Relationships. Once my Heroic Self has a specific checklist of actionable items, my Lesser Self can’t hide behind the excuse of still planning and preparing.