I enjoy being busy and it has gotten me into trouble. Over-committed, overwhelmed, overworked, and managing an overflowing schedule, leads to being overstressed. I am no slacker. I climb mountains to honor my commitments. People rely on me and I wouldn’t change it. But, when I say, “I can’t,” I’m not exaggerating. Being overextended teaches many lessons.

We’ve read those posts. You know the “10 Ways to Productivity” lists. A few tips work sometimes, while others are a complete failure for me. One helpful tip is an admonition to clear your desk, extolling the virtues. An empty workspace drives me crazy. A pristine desktop signals a lack of activity and performance. No inspiration, no ideas, no novel connections to make because of a notebook, open to a random page on which I slop my coffee. I dab the mess, a phrase comes into sharp focus, and voilà, I have a great topic to explore.

That wouldn’t happen with a tidy desk. I might still be staring at a clean counter, as I listen to my deadline swoosh by. Instead, I reach my goal in half the allotted time, freeing me to move to another task. With a big win notched in my belt, I have positive momentum, I fly, completing more jobs than I imagined was possible.

How do you get things done?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Tension gets a bad rap. They constantly tell us; we need to eliminate tension. But tension isn’t evil, in fact, it is useful. Maybe imperative. We borrow the word tension from the Latin tensiōn, tensiō  the “process of drawing tight.” Tension is a pull in a cable, a cord, a string, a chain… or a tendon. There is an old saying, “You can’t push a rope.”

Bodybuilders practice a “Time Under Tension” technique to help build big, strong muscles. When you are building muscle, tension is key. Structural Engineers use a measure called tensile strength to calculate the amount of force a material can withstand without tearing apart.

Bundles of steel cables have huge tensile strength and are used to construct suspension bridges. Simple instruments are stringed. They produce delightful sounds with tensioned strings that vibrate when plucked, strummed or hammered. Storytellers rely on tension to keep their audience engaged in the tale. Tension makes the world beautiful.

How does tension make your life sing?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Obstacles come in many shapes and sizes. Stumbling blocks are often trivial, easy to solve and present a minor inconvenience. Hardships can be hair-raising, complex issues calling for skill, detailed planning and expert help to overcome. Sudden rainstorms, flat tires requiring half a day to fix, missed connections, mixed messages and energy spent spinning in circles with no forward momentum can take a toll. Fortunately, we decide how we manage life’s tests.

Some things are best ignored, like thunderstorms that quickly dissipate.  Having a flat tire could be a silver lining when the mechanic identifies a recall and fixes everything in a few hours. There may be humor in a missed connection. New commonalities emerge by asking questions, which reveals better avenues of communication. When we make a conscious decision to choose our reactions, novel solutions arise, or amusing stories unite us with laughter. We might discover a process filled with happiness.

How do you handle obstacles?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I remember playing as a kid. It was a magical time. Apple trees magically transformed into space stations, and a sandbox set the stage for a town with a moat. The bare spot under a row of pines was a deep, dank dungeon below a giant castle. Epic adventures to distant lands filled with mystical creatures were only a heartbeat away. Inspiration floated on the breeze, shadows created villains and dappled sunlight illuminated the path to a happy ending.

Today social media encroaches on the wellspring of ideas. Our minds are seldom allowed the freedom of downtime. The minute we disconnect, we grow anxious. We fear we will miss something important. We are uncomfortable, no longer friends with silence. Our hands shake, we break out in cold sweats, and we hallucinate thinking we hear our phone beep. We are strung out on technology’s constant stimulation and in need of intervention. When we unplug, when we allow our mind the quiet it craves, creativity comes out to play.

How will you nurture your imagination today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer