“We will press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and possibility.” US President Joseph Biden

Do you ever feel like you’re jogging on a treadmill at the edge of a cliff?

Are you working so hard just to stay where you are that you are constantly afraid that things might change to the point that you have lost sight of where you are heading?

Is it possible that in an effort to protect yourself and your loved ones you have become so intent on controlling every aspect of your environment, that you now perceive even the slightest change as a threat?

If you heard yourself answer yes to one or all of these questions, don’t worry – you are not alone and there is a solution to all of this.

Now here’s the good news: despite what others may think, you are a person of action. The reason that you are struggling is not because you are not working hard enough, or not controlling enough, it is the opposite – you are focusing on the “peril” of your situation and trying to do too much to avoid it.

But what if you expended your energy focusing of the possibilities instead?

Being a person of action can have many advantages, but you must learn to work smart by being selective regarding what you give your time and attention to and avoid getting caught in the quagmire commonly referred to as micromanaging.

Odds are, the further that you progress in your journey, the more likely it is that you will discover that your primary task is simply to employ sufficient self-discipline to remain focused on your objective and not get distracted by the noise in your head, the opinions of others, or the uncertainty churning in circles in the pit of your stomach. In fact, that knot in your stomach is a sure way to tell that you actually are doing something differently!

With practice, a person of action can become so focused on moving forward that they don’t really notice that they are uncomfortable in the present moment. And if they do notice, they don’t mind because they recognise it for what it is – a phase they will pass through (and a reassuring sign that they are actually making progress).

Granted, it is not always easy to smile when you are in unfamiliar territory. If you find yourself in need of a little reassurance, you can easily regain your perspective by calmly reminding yourself that everything is progressing just as it should. Once you get a little further down the road, you will be comfortable again.

Simple to say but often more challenging to put into practice.

Particularly in the beginning, it can literally feel like you are stepping off the edge of a cliff. But rather than cling to old habits in fear, why not simply let go and see what happens?

Robin Trimingham is the chief operating officer of The Olderhood Group Ltd and a virtual presenter, journalist, podcaster and thought leader in the fields of life transition and change management. Connect with Robin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/olderhoodgroup1/ or robin@olderhood.com