@osernotutor
I tend to be optimistic about the holistic value and broad applicability of GTD.
I believe a person has a problem when they cannot identify activities they want to engage in that give them pleasure, fulfill their needs, and make their life worth living. Lack of meaning and enjoyment in life feels bad and does not fulfill our essential human needs for purpose and happiness. I, myself, have been struggling with burn out. I think we all have problems at times.
I very much like the idea in GTD that problems can be translated into Projects. This means that we can frame the problem as a desired outcome. What is not the way I want it to be? How would things be now if things were the way I wanted them to be?What do I want be true that is not currently true? How do I envision what "done" looks and feels like? If I envision wild success, what shows up for me? What is my Next Action on this Project?
We may find that once we take this active approach, we are gradually able to get more in touch with what is troubling us, and are better able to experiment, actively explore possibilites, brainstorm, mind map, research how others have resolved issues, and find our direction forward.
For instance, we might explore our higher horizons and consider what matters to us in life, what we see as our purpose in life, what principles we hold dear, what our vision is for our lives, what our values and goals are, what areas of focus, responsibility, concern, and control exist for us, and what these areas involve. Clarity about this can be a guiding light to infuse our Projects and Actions with meaning and enjoyment.
We might journal daily or when needed, so we become more aware of our needs and feelings. The books of the wonderful late art therapist Lucia Capacchione that involve using colors and expressive art in journaling (and require no experience or talent) can be a great adjunct to self-discovery. This process was even used successfully by the author to heal a life-threatening illness as described in her book "Recovery of Your Inner Child."
The Intensive Journal method by Psychologist Ira Progoff was developed to draw us forward and integrate all aspects of our unfolding life. His books provide guidance in applying this journal writing process using many divisions of life that correspond to colors and sections in a binder. These sections were developed over years of study with participants about what works best to move our lives forward in the way our life needs to unfold.
Julia Cameron in "The Artist's Way" tells her readers to write at least three pages a day of anything that comes to mind just after awakening from sleep, even if it is only a grocery list, and to keep writing. This is not to develop content but to loosen creativity and to remove all distracting obstacles to one's creative personal journey.
Julia Cameron also invites her readers to take an active role in their own self discovery through weekly adventures. We might venture into unknown territory and stick our toe in the water to experiment with life by actively searching for the things we do not realize would light us up with interest and delight. You must go alone, she says, with only yourself, to explore anything that might possibly interest you, once a week, every week. It could be as simple as visiting a local animal shelter or as adventurous as flying an airplane (with an instructor). You decide what you want to try. One never knows what fascination, meaning, or fun might arise in unexpected places.
The book "
Designing Your Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans is a whole-life approach to exploring the possibilities of what our life is about by brainstorming what we might have done and might still do with our one miraculous life. First we come up with many ideas, and then we choose three different designs for our life, and then we choose one life design to explore, and then we develop a small prototype to experience how this prototype would work in experience. This is more than a present solution because it teaches us how to design our life at any time it changes and needs a different design.
Others of us may want to get the support of a psychotherapist or coach or teacher in our journey. A woman was experiencing anxiety, but she had no clue about what was causing this feeling. She was able to create a Project and research this and learn more about how anxiety can be addressed. She then located a Psychotherapist who helped her learn how to manage these feelings of anxiety when they arose. She could enjoy life more with these new skills that gave her more control over her life.
Another possibility in this category is an extension of the work of the late Eugene Gendlin on his Philosophy of the Implicit that was developed by Ann Weiser Cornell and Barbara McGavin. These related processes are called ♥ Inner Relationship Focusing and ♥ Untangling, which they have both taught for decades. The work involves being aware of whatever is arising in us now, and accompanying it with acceptance, compassion, and love. There are other aspects that are important, too, such as learning to notice a "felt sense" that is a different way of perceiving. This creates a climate of emotional healing and growth that can create spontaneous, life-enhancing change. The website has many fascinating free materials.
https://focusingresources.com/
For people with ADHD or autism or clinical depression, these challenging conditions may be difficult for the people themselves to manage and may require help from loved ones and/or consulations with specialists in the field, depending on the nature and extent of the problem. An outcome-oriented approach may help people realize that they need to seek help and support or to create their own solutions. For instance, a woman once started a web site dedicated to helping herself and others manage their ADHD, make their lives easier and better, provide accurate information from experts, and challenge the stigma attached. This site has become a real long-term resource. (See YouTube: How to ADHD.)
I hope this provides useful ideas. No one is alone who is struggling with how to know what they want in the midst of all the things they need to do. It is a challenge many of us face at one time or another. I think GTD can help us here because of its active, outcome-oriented approach.
Best wishes,
Emily
