Posted on January 7, 2014 by Katrina Greene

One of the worst fears of anyone who is about to embark on a new journey is the thought of going blank, having nowhere to start and seeing nothing to do. There could be a feeling of wanting to begin and having a full and earnest desire to get the task done but nothing is happening. The mind goes blank when you think of how to begin. Or worse yet you have no idea how to do the assignment.

You could become worried and nervous, or stare at the ceiling hoping for some inspiration. You might find yourself doing all the chores you have been putting off and even offering to do those of others in an attempt to procrastinate your own work!

You could try to ask for help but it may not be clear who to turn to and even what to ask. You could feel lost and overwhelmed, and even wonder why you volunteered to do the work in the first place. Or if it is a mandatory project you are facing, you may wish it wasn’t there at all, that you had no deadline and may even contemplate outsourcing it entirely.

The good news is that there are many ways to breathe life into a new idea. One very effective way to turn an idea into reality is to make it into a project and gain clarity on the steps necessary to complete it. Some of the techniques below will help you accomplish your project directly and others have you do more peripheral work; on the outskirts getting yourself, your environment or your workspace ready.

1. Get Centered

It is important to start with yourself and where you are. Nothing will get done unless you are able to channel it, plan or start it yourself. So self care, which is always important, can be especially critical when you need to take on something that is larger than yourself and you feel unsure, not ready and you don’t know how.

You can step back from it and give yourself some time to meditate, do yoga, and take a walk or anything else that centers you and gives your mind and body a break from overly focusing on this agenda of yours. Relaxing, watching television or a video gives your conscious mind a rest and your unconscious mind a chance to begin the process of resolving the matter for you. When you return to it hopefully you will be more calm, centered and peaceful; filled with energy and ready to begin.

Next you can think about and get to know your own natural rhythms and biorhythms. Do you work better in the morning or evening or in between? Would you rather break things down into small parts or do it all at once? Do you like to do the easy bits first or the difficult ones and finish with the simpler parts last? Knowing this information will help you create an atmosphere most conducive to your maximum potential and output. You may want to make snacks and keep them by your side for added nutrition and energy. You might enjoy soft music playing in the background. Do what supports you; if you are happier the entire process will go much better.

2. Identify Your Idea’s Significance

For some, the origin of a project is important. If someone expects it of them they may be more diligent and have a fear of not starting or completing the task which drives them. Others may care less if it is an outside source and find a feeling from within that gets them to motivate, focus, work hard and accomplish the goal.

Timelines may help you keep track of where you are, what has been done, which you can give yourself credit for, and what still needs doing. Deadlines can keep you targeted on your goal and ensure that you don’t avoid working on it for too long.

Thinking about the finish line; having your work complete can give you new strength and determination. It can also give your task new meaning, direction and a deeper level of excitement and passion, as you renew your commitment to the final outcome.

3. Brainstorm Ideas

Breathing life into an idea could entail getting help on it; different views, perspectives and input. It might be helpful to contact whomever you think could make a difference. You may have to think out of the box to find these people. It may be a stretch to reach outside of your comfort zone and take a few risks to get the support you need.

It is important to be prepared; it is difficult to do your best job and live at your highest potential if you don’t have the practical, logistical or physical supplies, space and ambiance that you need so make sure that is in place before you begin (unless doing that in too much detail is part of your procrastination!).

It may seem hard to believe but some people have assignments on their agenda and they are not even sure why they are doing them. Are you doing so to help a relative out? Is it something that has been reassigned from the past? Do you want to do it? Are you resisting it? What is the point of this exercise? How much time will it take and who benefits?

These questions can give you clarity and insights which can help you look inside yourself, metaphorically, to a place you are not usually in touch with. At your core, deep down inside, what really matters to you about this endeavor? Who do you want to reach? What is it that you are trying to communicate or do? Reflecting on these and other questions can help you get to a more profound level and add new energy and meaning to your work.

You may be thinking of the typical way you always do everything, and yet as the saying goes, “if you always do as you always did; you always get what you always got”. In other words if you want new results likely you will have to do something new. You can begin by brainstorming all of the different ways to arrive at your goal. You can employ the support of other’s in this “think tank” process. This is the time to be creative and leave your restraints behind. Leave the field open at first you can always narrow your scope and edit your collective thoughts later on in the process.

Taking on large projects may require additional help and support. You can delegate parts of the whole to an expert, someone for whom it is their forte and specialization. They can provide insight, hope and help with perspectives you may not think of. They can spice it up or punch up your work. In this way you still get the credit but they add to and build on what you have started.

This is your time to be creative, add passion and a new innovative approach. Don’t get stuck in conformity or uniformity. You can break out of your shell and let the magic happen. Do things differently then you usually do, remember the phrase, “Now is your time to change”.

4. Experience the Outcome

Visualize your ideas coming to fruition. Use as many modalities as you can to achieve this goal. Picture it. Write it out. Put it on your bulletin board or wall. Share it. Record it and play it back. Use all of your senses to experience how it will be to have your ideas at play in the world. What will it look like and feel like? What will your surroundings be like when you reach your goal? Can you taste the success? Can you hear people discussing the impact of your ideas in use?

Don’t stop until you have turned your idea into a reality. Then celebrate yourself as you get nearer the finish line. Never let naysayers get in the way of your goals and dreams. These ideas are yours and shouldn’t ever be taken away from you by dream stealers. Protect these thoughts of yours until you reach your goals.

5. Determine the Impact

In order to sustain your interest in your ideas and bringing them into reality, it helps if you are aware of the impact these ideas will have on others including; your family, friends, community, society, the environment, animals and the world.

Who will it help most? Will it be family; your significant other, siblings, parents or children? Will it help your neighborhood, parks, and religious centers? Would it impact the state you are in or your country? Do your ideas have a global impact or could they?

Possibly you are not aware of the full reach of your thoughts and projects; they could impact more people than you realize. It might be inspiring to think about how many lives you could possibly change with your thoughts.

Need help starting a project?

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