Sometimes you just need to do the dishes

Photo by Catt Liu on Unsplash

During one of my recent client sessions, a young woman who I’ll call Tracy shared how frustrated she’s been with her book project.
 
“I don’t know what my problem is,” Tracy lamented. “Every time I think I’m ready to get going with writing my book, I find something else that seems to take priority. I’ll have a doctor’s appointment, or a friend from out of town will call me wanting to visit, or some other emergency will come up. I feel like I have some block that I need to deal with.”
 
This wasn’t the first time Tracy and I had this conversation.
 
In previous sessions, we talked about whether she really wanted to make this book project happen. (The answer was a resounding yes.) We discussed ways to make the process more fun and in alignment with her own rhythm of living life. We came up with bite-sized chunks that could help her move the project forward incrementally.
 
Still, she felt like she wasn’t making any progress.
 
In that moment in our session, a thought entered my head.
 
“Do you like doing the dishes?” I asked her.
 
“Not really. It’s not my favorite thing,” Tracy replied.
 
“But do you still do the dishes, even though it’s not your favorite thing?”
 
“Of course,” she answered. “They have to get done.”
 
“If doing the dishes isn't your favorite thing, why do you still do them?” I asked gently.
 
“I do it because I can’t imagine having a stack of dirty dishes piling up. I like having everything put away. Having a clean kitchen makes me feel good,” she replied.
 
“I want to highlight something you said. You do the dishes because you know that the feeling of having a clean kitchen outweighs the feeling of leaving it a mess,” I said, mirroring her response. “Is there a way you might relate how you approach the dishes with how you can approach your book project?”
 
Tracy sighed with a knowing look, and replied, “I get what you’re saying. Sometimes you just need to do the dishes. In this case, I just need to do what I set out to do with this book project.”
 
As she spoke, I could feel an energy of conviction.
 
“If a year goes by and I haven’t done anything, I’d be very disappointed with myself,” she declared.  “I have a big dream for this book to get out because I know it can help a lot of people. I have something important to say, and I want to get my message out in the world.”
 
Immediately, I could sense a shift happened and I knew Tracy was ready to make the book happen.
 
Tracy’s story might be recognizable in your own life. Maybe you don’t have a book project. But you may have experienced that feeling of really wanting to have something happen, but you aren’t enthused about some steps in the process of getting there.
 
It could be having enough energy and getting up from the couch to go to the gym. It could be making a decision to get a handle on your finances. Maybe it’s making those calls that will help you grow your business.
 
If you’re having trouble moving forward with something that you know you want to do, here is one simple question that you can ask yourself that could help you get going:
 
“Why do you want to do this?”
 
This might seem a simple question, and yet it’s one that many don’t take the time to really answer.
 
I encourage you to take some time to feel into this question and see what comes up, for any project that you are undertaking.

"Why do you want to do this?"

You probably will have a number of different answers. And one answer will be the one that tugs at your heart.
 
Some people call this one answer “your Why that makes you cry.”
 
When you find that one answer that taps into the heart of your vision, let that motivation be the driving force to help you move forward.
 
For Tracy, yes, sometimes you just need to do the dishes, but really it’s more than that. She does the dishes because she is tapping into her vision for a clean and brighter home.
 
What is your why that makes you cry?
 
For this week’s coaching assignment, ask, “What are the metaphorical dishes in your life that are calling to you? And ultimately, why do you want to do what your heart is calling you to do?”
 

• Example: I really know that I need to get a handle on what I’m eating. I’ve been eating a lot of sweets and fatty foods lately and my body has been feeling a lot more sluggish. What’s worked before is having a diary of foods that I eat. This was helpful for me to be more conscious of what I’m putting in my body. But this seems like such a chore! Aargh! Isn’t there something easier? Well, when I really think about my why, I want to feel more alive in my body. I want to feel more energy. And I want to not have to worry about any bad news that my doctor might tell me. Wow! This is making me realize how important eating healthier is for me.

 
And here is a spiritual truth to remember as you look at doing things that might not seem so fun:
 
Even in the seemingly mundane, the Divine is present there too.
 
In those most private of moments, when no one else may be watching, you can connect spiritually. Know that as your heart calls you forward, each and every one of your actions can be the unfolding and revealing of the Divine.

Are you open to allowing the Divine to shine through you?
 
Abundant Blessings and Namaste.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about today’s post, and to hear about what you do when you don't feel like doing the things you know you need to do. Please leave a comment below. And if you’d like some support in creating a more inspiring and purposeful life, I’d be happy to talk with you. You can sign up for a free life coaching consultation by clicking here.

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