Someone emails you a question, and you read it and know the answer. You could email them back right away and tell them. Or your mind might get in the way. "You're not even supposed to be checking email right now!" "They'll think you're not busy, just hanging out on your computer if you respond right away!" "It's 9 p.m. on a Friday night - what will people think if you respond to an email now? They'll think you don't have a fun social life!" Oh, Mind, you are so very funny.
Or let's switch to blogging. You have an idea, some cool photos, a basic plan of what to write. But then your mind pipes in. "It's too early to write - let's do some other stuff." Or, "It's too late - we'll do it tomorrow when we're fresh." Or "That post would make more sense on a Friday and it's only Thursday." Or "Those photos are from an event last week - who wants to read about that now! Too late!"
Your somewhat nutty but well-meaning mind has you putting things off, waiting because it's too soon, and then abandoning because - Oh! Now it's too late.
Guess what? None of it is true. And it really gets in the way of getting valuable stuff done.
So want a real life example? (I only know this stuff because my mind has its nutty moments!) Way back in April, an extraordinary fellow blogger named Jackie featured me in a beautiful Shine post on her site. And I never really told anyone about it! Why? Because of my mind. First it seemed too soon. Then I was busy, then I was out of town, then I was out of town again, then it seemed too late.
If this ever happens to you, tell your mind to shhhhh... and do the thing. It's not too soon. To write your memoirs. To dust under the bed, even if you did it last week. To call your mom. To try that business idea. Or if you don't do it and your mind says it's too late, again tell your mind hush. It's not too late. To send the thank you note. To organize your finances. To plan that vacation you've been dreaming of. To start taking care of your body.
So, without further ado, here's the link to a Q&A session with Jackie - I loved her questions and loved doing this interview! Perhaps reading this link is exactly what you need today, and that's why I'm posting it, two months later in June. That's what I'm believing tonight. Thanks again, Jackie for the insightful questions!