One way I am finding balance is by asking: What do I really want? In the past, I have confused the small tasks on the to-do list as the mission. Even those rare times I would complete my million to-dos I would still be left with that feeling of standing still. More often though, I wouldn't be able to finish everything on my list and would feel like I was constantly chasing a runaway train.
Shifting my focus from to-dos to outcomes has been an impactful and liberating shift in focus. With a to-do, there is only one path to completion - checking it off the list. With an outcome - there are unlimited paths to success.
Here's the steps I always start with:
1. What do I really want? This is my outcome/target.
2. Why do I want it? This is my purpose/passion.
By creating a target (what do I really want?) I now have direction. By creating a purpose (why do I want it?) and writing it down, I now have a purpose, passion, and fuel that drives me.