Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your mission, a project, or a big goal to the point where you don’t even know where to start?

😬 Sometimes when I think of everything I need to do to build the kind of business I see in my imagination, I go into freeze mode.

Everything I could be doing or should be doing rolls through my mind, like a cartoon where the character unwinds a scroll and the paper just stretches as far as the eye can see.

Even if I have a plan for the day, my mind can execute a hostile take-over and remind me of the gazillion other things on my to do list.

😌 But just recently, I’ve figured out two questions I can ask myself that immediately help me cut through the clutter and get into action.

📝 And even if you don’t own a business, I think you’ll find these two questions can be applied to many different situations where there’s a lot to do and not a clear place to start.

So whether you’re focused on a big mission – like making sure girls and women have equal access to education around the world – or you’re just trying to get through the holidays with all the cooking, shopping, decorating, hosting, and wrapping, use these two questions to get out of overwhelm and into action!

Question 1️⃣: “How can I help?” or “How can I be of service today?”

❤️ If you’re taking on a big project, it’s probably because it’s something you care about deeply. My bet is that it’s about people, places, or things you love, or a cause you feel passionate about. And if that’s the case, it’s about being of service.

👉 You’re out to serve others or serve the world in one way, shape, or form.

So, if you’re not sure where to start, ask yourself, “How can I best be of service today?”

For me, that answer often comes down to writing blog posts like this where I can share things I’ve learned that might help someone else.

💡 I imagine just one person reading my post and getting the “ah-ha!” they needed, or a mindset shift that will help propel them forward.

It gets me into action and also helps me take my focus off of myself – what I need to do…what I’m trying to accomplish…what I want to build…am I good enough to do it…etc. – and puts my focus onto the people I want to serve.

And when I get into that mode, I get another key benefit:

It takes the pressure off that I’m putting on myself to hurry up and get my business going. The taskmaster in my brain settles down and the creative problem solver in me rises up.

⭐️ My brain is no longer focused on my laundry list of to do items, and instead focuses on how I can help the people I most want to serve.

So, how can you use this question to start tackling the big project in your life?

🔥 How can you use it to shift your focus from everything you have to do, back to the reason you’re doing it in the first place?

Question 2️⃣: “Where’s the joy?” Or just use the mantra, “Follow the joy.”

The second question I ask myself when I’m feeling overwhelmed by my goals is, “Where’s the joy?”.

🥳 In other words, what would be fun to do today? Of everything I can think of that I could do to move my goals forward, what would be most fun? What would lift my heart and fuel my tank and make me feel really good at the end of the day?

Allowing myself to follow my joy helps me cut through the clutter of “where do I start”. It also helps me get into action because I’m not struggling with trying to make myself do something I don’t want to do.

Eventually those things still need to be done – but it’s so much easier for me to do the stuff I don’t enjoy as much (usually accounting or technology related tasks) when I have a full tank and I have some momentum under my belt.

My head is clearer and I can go into power mode and mow down those tasks. But if I try to kick start my motivation with one of those tasks, I’m dead before I start.

👉 So, if you’re stuck on where to dive into your big project, try just allowing yourself to follow the joy.

What would be most fun for you to do today that would move the needle forward even a little bit? What would give you energy, as opposed to taking your energy?

🏎 If you start there, you’ll get your momentum going, and you’ll have a full tank of gas when it comes time to tackle the not-so-fun tasks that are a necessary part of your mission or project.

✅ And the best part about that is, the more you accomplish, the better you’ll feel.

You’ll feel less overwhelmed, more in control, *more fulfilled*, and more confident, that with every step, the big thing you set out to do will actually get done!

I hope these two questions help you relieve any pre-holiday overwhelm, and help you dive back into your business or your regular life post-holiday!

🎯 If you’d like even more support as you drive your mission forward in 2023, I’d love to help! My passion is helping mission-driven women get the clarity, confidence, and structure they need to bring their goals to life.

Setup a free Meet & Greet session with me to find out how I can help you move forward faster and with greater ease in the New Year! ===> https://soulfireshift.com/coaching

⛄️🎁🍾In the meantime, I’m sending you my warmest wishes for a holiday season filled with peace, love, and magic! Enjoy your time with family and friends, and be sure to carve out some restful, restorative time for yourself 🙂

😍 I’m away for the next two weeks, so I won’t have any new posts, but I look forward to sharing more tips, strategies, and shifts with you next year to help you live your purpose and create the change you want to see in your world and the world at large!

🥂 Cheers to you, the bright light you carry, the ripple effects you create that benefit the rest of us!!