Remember those projects you started…and didn’t finish? I bet you do. They have a tendency to nag at you constantly, don’t they?
“I’m undone…incomplete…and need some attention!” Every day, they remind you of their existence, right?
And, as long as they are undone, you feel unable to take on new projects that feed your soul or help you achieve a new goal.
Incomplete Projects Hold You Back
Indeed, your incomplete projects block you from doing the things most aligned with who you want to be and what you want to accomplish. They also lower your confidence and self-worth, making it all the harder to complete them.
That’s why it’s time to finish what you started—or decide to table those unfinished projects for now (or forever). This frees you to take on projects that feed your soul and fulfill your purpose.
Make an Accounting
How many incomplete projects do you have—personally and professionally? And are they projects ones you want to complete—or do you feel like you should finish them…since you started them?
Imagine that you have completed all of those incomplete projects. Take a deep breath, and then answer this question: What projects would you take on next?
I bet you know…
Finish What You Start
After all, your soul whispers constantly, “Do this!” And you feel the excitement, inspiration, and motivation associated with that aligned project.
Then you remember those projects you started…and your brain says, “Finish them first. Then you can start something new.”
And so, you turn back to the unfinished projects…to finally finish them. But you do so with no passion…just a sense of obligation. After all, you were taught to finish what you start, right?
You find it almost impossible to muster the energy or desire to finish your unfinished projects despite that indoctrination. So you don’t…
Nor do you start on the projects your soul begs you to begin.
And you end up feeling worse about yourself and unable to remove the obstacles—the incomplete projects—in the way of doing what you desire.
My Unfinished Project
As I write this post, I’ve just entered the last quarter of 2021. Typically, this is when I buckle down to complete projects before the year ends.
You know the drill…
You set goals back in January. Or you took on projects you intended to complete by the end of the year. And here it is October, and you have less than 90 days to get your ass in gear and do what you told yourself you would do this year.
I have one book project I’ve wanted to complete for over a year. As the end of September rolled around, I said to myself, “Nina, there is no way that you are going into another new year with this project incomplete. It needs to get off your desk.”
This is especially true since I feel called to start at least two other book projects. And I don’t want to put them off much longer, especially since they will help me move toward my current goals, are congruent with my identity, and feed my soul.
Falling Out of Love
That’s the main reason I am so adamant about getting this old book project done. Then, when it is complete, I can move on to other projects more aligned with what I want to be working on right now.
You see, I was passionate, inspired, and motivated by this book project when I started it a few years ago. So you could say I was in love with it, but now, my interests lie elsewhere. I’ve fallout out of love with the project, and that fact makes it challenging to spend time on it.
Of course, to complete the project, I have to have a relationship with it even now–despite how I feel. Without the desire and attraction, though, it’s harder to spend the time necessary to get to “done.”
Should or Have To Finish
You probably have some projects like that—personally or professionally. You’d like to complete them, so you can do something else. Yet, your attention gravitates to the incomplete projects because you feel like you should or have to finish them.
All the while, your soul tells you to do something different, something you would feel passionate about and inspired to do. The ideas pop into your head, and inspiration hits!
If you want to act on those intuitive hits, it’s time to take action and complete whatever projects are blocking you from doing the things that feed your soul, is it not? Open up attention, time, and energy to begin aligned new projects in the New Year.
Complete your Incomplete Projects
To begin moving toward those inspiring projects, either finish or get rid of the incomplete projects in your way. Here’s how:
- Make a list of all your incomplete projects—personally and professionally.
- Circle the ones you feel are not aligned with who you are now or who you want to be; they don’t feel exciting to you anymore or move you toward your current goals.
- Put a star next to the circled projects that genuinely need to be completed before you move on to a new or aligned incomplete project. These are the obstacles to moving on to the projects you really want to take on or finish.
- Cross of the lists any circled projects you can quit. However, you might prefer to move a project or two into the future rather than let them go entirely; mark those as future endeavors.
- Pick one or two circled and starred projects you can finish quickly—in the next three months. Then, make a plan for completing them.
Aligned Incompletes
Your list may have some uncircled items. These remaining aligned incomplete projects likely excite you. As such, they are the ones you are making space to work on at the end of the quarter…or before (if you finish more quickly).
Queue them up for immediate completion after finishing the ones you identified as “need to complete” previously. Knowing you get to work on these projects next will compel you to finish the others more quickly.
Give yourself deadlines for completing the projects taking your attention and time away from those you feel most called to do. Then reward yourself for meeting the deadlines; start a project that feeds your soul.
Making Space
Let me summarize:
- It’s the start of the final quarter of the year. You have less than 90 days to meet your goals, including completing projects you have started and not finished.
- Completing incomplete projects opens up your time, energy, space, and attention to do your life’s work.
- If any projects on the table now are misaligned with who you are, who you want to be, your goals, or your life’s work, either don’t do them or get them done fast. Then turn your attention to the work you are meant to do in the world.
- If a project does not feed your soul, either complete it or take it off the to-do list and move on to the ones that are.
It’s About Alignment
I know my continued focus on this one old book project keeps me misaligned. By that, I mean that it isn’t congruent with who I want to be and what I want to do now and in the future. Energetically, it’s a mismatch.
And as long as I’m out of alignment, I can’t create the things I want—at least not without struggle. By focusing on the next book, which is aligned, I open myself to receiving more of what I desire.
Last week, my coach said, “Nina, I think when you begin working on the new book project, you will be so aligned with who you want to be, where you want to go, and your life’s work that your energy will shift and everything will begin to flow to you easily and effortlessly. So, can you get this old book project done and move on?”
As soon as she said this, I knew she was right. And I recommitted to finishing the book project…before the end of the month.
Get in the Flow
If you want to get in the flow and quickly finish projects, make sure you are aligned with them. Focus your attention on the projects that help you be the best version of yourself, contribute to the world, and fulfill your soul’s purpose.
Then watch the magic happen.
What incomplete projects do you need to complete before the end of the year? Tell me in a comment below. And please share this post with someone who might benefit from it.
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