Step Up to GOMO!^®

In the article, GOMO!^® to Get Over it; Move On,  we introduced the concept of GOMO!^® Get Over it; Move On! GOMO!^® is a 5-step process for getting over the "its" that get in the way of living life to it's fullest.

Here are the five steps in a nutshell; in this article, we'll focus on the first four:

1. Get connected… what are your feelings about your "it"?
2. Own your it….what are the facts around your "it"?
3. Make your decision….are you willing to release your "it"?
4. Opt for action….Let it go!
5. ! Replace the space….Move On with a Piece of Strength

Using the acronym GOMO!, we'll start thinking about the source(s) of your worry and frustration in more specific terms.

The first step is "G" - Get connected with your feelings.

People can refute your facts, but never your feelings. You feel what you feel. There is merit in acknowledging specific feelings so that you can decide what to do about them. So get connected. What are you feeling? Is it tough for you to identify and acknowledge deeper feelings? Use the list at the end of this article as a jumpstart.

A second step to getting over it – whatever your "it" is, is to "O" - Own the facts of your "it". A Danish proverb tells us, "The sky is not less blue because the bind man doesn't see it." Revealed truth helps us evaluate the wisdom of releasing our "it". What are the answers to who, what, when, where, and why that describes your "it"? Discover and evaluate the truth; and you'll be ready for the third step.

"M" - Make your decision to release your "it". By connecting with your feelings and owning the facts of your "it", you have clearer, more specific information to make your decision. Will it be "yes, I'll let it go," or "no, I won't?" GOMO!^® really is a choice. But we can be honest about this. If we choose to hold on to worry or frustration, even anger, then we are no longer in the camp of victims. We have the power to choose release from distress or not. And if we choose not, we've still exercised our power of choice.

However, the decision to release your "it" isn't always a clear yes or no.

During Christmas a few years ago, my father-in-law was visiting us. A kind man. A gentle man. But sometimes, like many of us, his words can be sharp. One evening at dinner, my daughter was helping me serve the soup that we were having. Her grandfather, her father and her brother were already at the table and Breanne was at the stove helping me. As she was getting ready to serve her grandfather, a bit of the soup spilled over the bowl onto the plate. And Dads, teasingly said, "boy, we wouldn't let you serve soup to us at our place. We wouldn't want someone this sloppy being our waitress." Breanne just glanced at her grandfather, tears filled her eyes as she ran from the room – feelings hurt by the words that had just filled the air. I quickly followed her to our bedroom where she had sat down on the floor next to our bed, head down into her lap, arms wrapped around her knees, crying. I said, "Breanne look at me. Dads didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I know those weren't kind words but he really was trying to tease and didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Isn't this a GOMO!? Breanne lifted her head, tearfully looked me in the eye, and said, "Well, maybe it's a GOMO!, but I'm not ready to do that right now. I need to think about it."

Maybe it's a GOMO!, but I'm not ready yet.

Fair enough.

Once you've made a decision for release, or not, it's time to "O" - Opt for action. The ideal result of "opt for action" is real action that releases the negative "it", the worry of "it", and the stress of "it". Sometimes we make a decision that is powerful in intent, but we don't follow through with the action to bring the decision alive. No action. No results. As a wonderfully clear Chinese proverb tells us, "Talk doesn't cook rice."

Simple? Fairly.

Easy? Hardly.

Valuable? Extremely.

"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength. When you go through hardship and decide not to surrender, that is strength." –Arnold Swarzenegger

Four steps to the Get Over it of GOMO!^®- Get connected with your feelings about the negative situation. Own the facts. Make your decision for release. Opt for action.

The beauty of investing just a handful of minutes to Get over one of your "it's" is the freedom you now have for becoming even more powerful in your work, with your communication, and in your relationships.

Get Over It with GOMO!® In our next article, we'll focus on the Move On portion of GOMO!^®, the "!" of GOMO!^® You can expect powerful, proven, practical ideas for "moving on" to build healthier relationships, stronger teams, and achieve goals.

Feelings; oh, oh those feelings...

Having a little trouble identifying those feelings? Use this list as a jump start!

 By Susan B. Wilson, President, Executive Strategies