How to Do Something Overwhelming

Sometimes, in life, it’s very good to see the big picture. Steven Covey says, “Begin with the end in mind.” That’s very good advice.

Most of the time.

Sometimes, the project you’re facing is so big, so daunting, so overwhelming huge that you simply can’t fathom it. If you’re standing at the foot of the mountain, staring up at the snow-capped points that are miles above you, it can be daunting.  Rather than being inspired to lunge ahead, you end up thinking to yourself, “Y’know, a cuppa hot cocoa in my easy chair is lookin’ mighty good right about now...”

Today, my primary cleaning task was the kitchen. After making some brownies for a neighbor’s mission farewell activity, and various other cooking bits, the kitchen was a mess. You can say, “Oh, I have a messy kitchen,” but, really? Take a look at this.

Yeah. I win.

Or lose...

Or something...

When I’m facing this sort of huge task, I can’t do it efficiently. I can’t think of all the things on the counter and pick out all of the ones that go to the pantry, and all of the ones that go to the front room, etc... That just maxes my meter.

But -

I CAN pick one thing up, figure out where it goes, and take it there.

Then, I CAN do it again. I pick up another thing, figure out where it goes, and then take it there.

Yeah, it means I do a lot more walking and a lot more taking. It takes me longer.  But it gets DONE.

And now it looks like this:

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.