The Simple 9-Word Mantra I Use To Combat Feelings Of Overwhelm
6 weeks ago, I quit my full-time job.
And on that first day, I bursted awake with a strong feeling of freedom & excitement.
“Woah — I can do literally anything I want today.”
But as someone who prefers routine & structure, this freedom & excitement soon melted into discomfort. (Turns out freedom isn’t necessarily liberating!)
I spent the first few days trying to make progress in 100 different directions. I was trying to do everything (and as a result, I didn’t do anything).
Then, I stumbled across a little quote inside Derek Sivers’ latest book How To Live — and since reading it, I can’t stop repeating it.
“You can have anything you want, but not everything.”
Right away, I recognized how this applied in every area of my life (and was the exact saying I needed to internalize).
- Health. You can eat anything you want, but not everything.
- Writing. You can write anything you want, but not everything.
- Travel. You can go anywhere you want, but not everywhere.
- Business. Your business can solve any problem it wants, but not every problem.
- Relationships. You can be friends with anyone you want, but not everyone.
Now, anytime I feel like I’m spinning my wheels or pulling myself in a dozen different directions, I pause and repeat these 9 words.
This cures my overwhelm by forcing me to eliminate choices & excess decisions.
