Figuring out this “Six in Me” thing.
People talk about balance. I say, forget balance. It’s more like juggling, and recently, I felt like I was juggling six different versions of myself. It wasn’t pretty, let me tell you.
So, what were these six?
- First, there was the Sleepless Planner. This guy was up all night, sketching out “what ifs” on napkins. Mostly bad ones.
- Then, the Clueless Learner. Suddenly, I had to pick up stuff I hadn’t touched in years. Or ever. Talk about feeling like a dummy.
- Right beside him, the Overwhelmed Doer. Learning is one thing, actually doing it when you’re under pressure? Whole different ball game. Made a lot of mistakes.
- Can’t forget the Constant Worrier. This one was a real pain, always whispering doom and gloom. Kept the coffee pot working overtime.
- Then, there was the Quiet Observer. Just watching everything unfold, trying to make sense of the chaos. Sometimes this one just wanted to hide.
- And finally, the Hopeful Grinder. This was the small voice saying, “just one more try, just keep going.” This one was hard to hear sometimes, but crucial.
You’re probably wondering how I ended up with these six characters running my life. It all started when the company I was with for, like, a decade decided to “restructure.” That’s a fancy word for “you’re out.” One day you’re a senior whatever, next day you’re packing a cardboard box. Hit me like a ton of bricks.
Suddenly, I wasn’t just “me” anymore. I was all those six guys, all at once, fighting for the controls. My routine? Gone. My confidence? Shaken. My savings? Well, let’s just say they started looking real small, real fast. I spent the first few weeks just staring at the ceiling, mostly the Sleepless Planner and the Constant Worrier having a loud party in my head.
Then I realized, staring wasn’t paying the bills. So the Clueless Learner had to step up. I started looking at new fields, things I was always curious about but never had the guts or time to dive into. It was brutal. Felt like going back to school, but with the added joy of mortgage payments breathing down my neck. The Overwhelmed Doer made a lot of messes. I remember trying to set up some new software, something “everyone” was using. Took me three days and I nearly threw the laptop out the window.
The Quiet Observer watched all this, sometimes thinking, “Man, you’re really blowing this.” But the Hopeful Grinder, bless that little guy, kept pushing. Sent out resumes that got no replies. Made calls that went to voicemail. Started a small project, just to have something to show, something to build. It wasn’t about a big win. It was about not letting the Worrier take over completely.
It’s been a while since that “restructure.” Things aren’t perfect, not by a long shot. But those six? They’re still in me, I guess. Just not all yelling at once. The Sleepless Planner now plans more, worries a bit less. The Clueless Learner is now just… the Learner. Still learning, but not so clueless. The Doer gets more done, with slightly fewer explosions. The Worrier still visits, but I offer him decaf now. The Observer sees progress, slow as it is. And the Grinder? Well, he’s the one writing this, still grinding, still hoping.
So yeah, “six in me.” It’s not some fancy self-help theory. It was just my messy way of getting through a tough time. Maybe you’ve got your own “number” in you when things go sideways. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about managing the crew you’ve got inside.
