This toolkit relates to the blog post on Reducing the Weight of Possibility, as well as the podcast titled Untangling the Weight of Possible Outcomes from the Journey (or Traveling Light).
I am indebted for the idea of the categorization of factors into “me, other people, and God factors” to Byron Katie. Her book, Loving What Is (2003), was incredibly thought-provoking and really helped me with ways to concretely “spin” problems into challenges that are actually achievable by me, rather than simply frustrations at the lack of cooperation from others.
I am also grateful to my good friend Laura, who sent me the book via Audible. I think she thought I was carrying too much.
Tool #1 Choosing a Rock to Carry
You can use this individually to assess how heavy your backpack is right now. It’s helpful to look at your hopes and dreams, but also to know you may not need to carry all of them with you every day. Some could be safely stored for later, while others may deserve a little attention so they are worth their “weight.”
Tool #2 Rephrasing Hopes into Desired Outcomes
It’s helpful to tighten up our language when we talk to ourselves about what we deeply want and wish for. The fact is, so much of what we want is not within our control. However, there are aspects of each wish that are. Phrasing our hopes to be within our ability to work on is a way to nourish that hope.
Tool #3 Packing a Manageable Outcome (Just one rock!)
This is a checklist that will help turn your collection of hopes and dreams into a manageable outcome that you can really work on in your actual day to day life. See Tools #4 -6 for sample worksheets to fill out as you clarify this for yourself.
Tool #4 Sample Worksheet for Traveling Light
Feel free to use this as a way to organize your thoughts and also to keep a record of your manageable outcomes. You can of course carry more than one rock at a time, but it’s a lot more likely that each task you do in the day is in support of one specific outcome. You may want to swap out rocks based on where you are going and who you are working or playing or doing life with. The point is, each rock is precious and you have the ability to move closer to your dream with realistic, and achievable progress towards specific outcomes.
Tool #5 Sample Worksheet for Traveling Light (adult)
Here is one I’ve filled out to show you how this can take a large (and vague) hope and turn it into a truly actionable plan.
Tool #6 Sample Worksheet for Traveling Light (child)
This worksheet is for a caregiver who is holding a hope/dream for a loved child. You can use this to help yourself create more space in your child’s backpack as well, while keeping hold of what is truly yours to do in helping your child flourish.