Are you feeling overwhelmed by an unfinished project or just the day to day tasks that you have to accomplish? Have you ever heard the expression “Bloom where you are planted?” I am sure that you have…. It’s an expression that I like a lot and it applies to a stressful project that we had to face this summer. .
Photo by borkur.net
When my family had the opportunity to paint our deck, even though we used visualization and motivation strategies to accomplish it, there were definitely moments of stress.
It’s a big job!! Our deck looked like it hadn’t been stained in quite a few years and since we had moved in, we hadn’t had the opportunity or motivation to do it! What a mess! We had never done anything like it before and none of us knew exactly what to do.
It was a very wet summer here in Edmonton and when we made the decision to forge ahead and paint the deck, we were blessed with 10 days of hot, dry weather, right at the beginning of September.
There are many ways that doing a job like that can be approached. You can make it into a chore, a drudgery that makes everyone around you feel bad or you can approach it like a game, and put joy into it. How you approach it, can add to the value in your relationships or hinder them..
Here is what I learned…..
Plan! Know the tools you will need and have them ready when you need them. There was a lot of research on the internet that went on and questioning of the handymen in our family.
Visualize your success. When you picture the end result, you have a goal that you can confidently move towards.
Co-operation is necessary! Team work all the way!! (especially when it comes to a big project).
Ask for help when you don’t know what to do (thanks to the very lovely people who shared their knowledge at the Benjamin Moore paint store in Sherwood Park!).
Have fun! Laugh when things go wrong ….that’s what we did when I spilled HALF a can of very expensive stain on our unpainted picnic table……..(which has now lovingly been stained to match the deck!). Fortunately, I missed getting it on the dog!
Take time to rest (frequent breaks with refreshments on a hot day are a bonus!).
Enjoy the weather when it’s good (sunshine is good for the heart and the soul).
And finally, last but not least….
Celebrate your success. Acknowledge the hard work of those who made it possible, for the long hours in the sun scraping the flecks of peeling paint off of the floorboards of the deck. (We celebrated with music, good food and an episode of our favourite television show, Dr. Who!).
Each of us have projects and tasks that we are doing, whether it is home or self improvement, going to school, learning new skills or building a business. It doesn’t even need to be a big task, it can be something as simple as putting your laundry away or doing the dishes.
When you are feeling overwhelmed, trying out one or two of these small strategies can help you bloom where you are planted…..the world will seem a much better place! In the process, you will find that the relationship you have with yourself, as well as with others, will be strengthened.
Sherie
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Great tips Sherri. Yes, celebrate the success.
Absolutely, Carol!!
This is such a nice post Sherie…love it! Like the time to get rest ~ always helps 😉
Thank you, Solvita! Yes, rest does always help! : D
Dear Sherie,
I LOVE bloom where you are planted. Thanks for this great reminder.Here is a post I dedicated to the same subject.
http://micheletremblay.com/bloom-planted
Great minds think alike!!!! Love it, Michele!!! Thanks for sharing!!! : D
Great post!! My favorite tip is celebrating the success…doing a little dance after each successful accomplishment..is essential!!:)
I love your visual of doing a dance!! Thanks, Dr. Daisy!
Great Post! Thanks for sharing. Lorii
Great post once again! Thumbs up;)
Thanks, Clemmie!
That is some great advice! We personally had to do 2 big decks at our place this year. It is a lot of work and yes planning so you don’t run out is a great tip when you live 45 minutes from town one direction the job took us from morning til evening…So happy it is done now!
Thanks, Nancy! I can imagine how happy you are getting TWO decks done!! My hat is off to you!
Great post and great advice! I needed this today too. Thank you so much for posting this.
: D Thanks for dropping by, Anastasiya!
I needed this today. We are planting fall crops and getting garden beds ready for the long winter. At least the weather is the essence of a perfect autumn day.
Glad it could help, Lorrie! : D
Thanks so much for reminding me to celebrate my successes….that is so so important!
Betty, it definitely is!! : D
I came across your post at just the right time. In the middle of a daunting job and I need to find some joy and VISUALIZE my success. Thanks for the insight and motivation. Look forward to future posts.
Thanks, Lizabet! Go for it!
Such great tips!! I love that you included asking for help! That is something I am no always good at, but when I do, my energy picks up and everything happens with so much more grace. Thanks.
Molly, asking for help can make such a difference, can’t it?? : D
What great advice! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Edwina!