When I can be aware of that, and get all that reflection/introspection complete and set aside, it’s THEN that I have the clean slate of that “inbox zero” feeling; all threads are tied, nothing on the plate. Once that’s done, I’m at 100% on “what’s going on Now”, and am ready for that “what’s next” mentality, and all my skills and tools are ready to set ‘em up and knock ‘em down, as they say.

Sometimes, it’s a matter of taking the time to do that reflection, other times it’s better a matter of the best way of disengaging that introspection engine; putting those items away for now and jumping the track to get to that “ready to jam” mode. For some reason, music is exactly what does it for me, most times, like you’re saying here.

My office cohort is into hiphop/rap (westcoast, whut.), which works wonders for getting me out of a rut. Left to my own devices, I’m hitting Pandora for Spooky Tooth and related Prog Rock. I’m also very lucky to have a friend that’s into creating music; so I’ve got a small stash of original tunes at hand.. those always take me out of the drudgery and put me in a clean-plate state.

THEN it’s time for “what’s next, what’s next..” and the day is less a disconnected series of issues to wrestle, more of a flow of events that gives momentum to the very satisfying “this is better than it was” devotion.