The Messy Middle

Right now, I’m in ‘the messy middle’, where life runs on two speeds. In a holding pattern on some fronts, and going full speed ahead on others. A lot is happening and on top, I’m halfway through writing my second book ‘Recalibrate’ with my apartment building being repainted and resealed. Equipment left on my balcony by tradies last week sparked chaos, with my dog Sunny having regular ‘stoushes’ during the night with a ladder and two paint bags that he is convinced WILL kill us. There were no winners in these late-night stand-offs, only losers (aka me and my sleep).

So I shipped Sunny off to spend a week with my parents, to help me hit a looming editor deadline. All the furniture from my balcony is inside my home, along with boxes and equipment for the set-up of virtual training long term. Frankly, it’s a mess and I don’t even know where to begin in sorting it all.

Maybe you are also navigating your own version of the ‘messy middle’ right now? Just when you feel like things are moving forward, along comes another restructure (after two rounds of restructures already), perhaps a project timeline has been completely changed yet again after just recently being ‘locked in’, and if you are in Melbourne lockdown there’s a whole other layer of angst present. Sound familiar?

All of us get the “nothing is certain” story of 2020. But when you are in it, sometimes it’s hard to bust through the overwhelm, be less reactive or to even just get

space

between endless meetings to have time to think, let alone be creative or strategic. Maybe your messy middle right now is too much space and time - the complete opposite?

During times you feel caught up in the messy middle, take a moment to shift yourself somewhere into a new environment (out in the sun, a café nearby, a different room even) and ask yourself these questions:

What are my intentions today?

Where is my attention?

Am I still breathing? ….(oh I am, thank goodness for that)

There are many ‘messy middles’ to go, so recognise when you’re back on autopilot with chaos taking control of you, and take five minutes to recalibrate. You might just have a more enjoyable, productive day.