Birthday Party Ideas: Suffering Party Planning Paralysis?

Over birthday party planning?..

"Me Tense? I'm planning a $%&# PARTY. I'm past tense!!"

Yeah, past tense ...and so was the party.

Suffering Party Planning Paralysis?

Help is Here!

A Happy Birthday to some people is an oxymoron. It fits nicely with Jumbo Shrimp, Government Assistance and True Lies. This is so true for the person doing some birthday party planning. They may come to ask:

Should there always be a pleasure / pain thing going on?

Is it inevitable that there will be tension?

Sorry, for the answer but in each case it's a resounding YES. And that is a good thing. The nerves, butterflies etc. are one way our biology keeps us sharp and alert and focused.

In prehistoric times the ritual around the hunt and the subsequent feasting was a way of riding the birthday party planning tension. Imagine Party Thurg saying: "Where's my club ug!; which fur will I wear oog!; has Vurg ordered the berries ug-ug!; I bet a mammoth will rock-crash our cave ug-og-ug! etc. etc -- get the picture??

It's a bit of a dilemma wouldn't you say?

The solution when negativity strikes?

Simple! This should fit really well with people into affirmations, chanting and the new-age like.

One thing first: this is not new-age! It's age old wisdom passed down from generation to generation. It is sometimes commonly called -- strangely enough -- common sense. But in the party preparation game there seems to be a tendency for the Party Beast to rise from the planning pages, take on a life of its own and dictate to the organizers. A huge case of the tail wagging the dragon. Who we hope is not the hostess!!!!!

"Tell me oh wise one. What are the most important things to remember?"

Ready?

When in the midst of a birthday party planning crisis and the negative thoughts appear...replace them with a positive one !

Tah-da!!!

Seriously. Invasive thoughts will only add to the tension....and their opposite, as the name suggests, will have the opposite effect.

After years of event and birthday party planning and watching people go through their party pains, I have noticed five usual suspects:

No:1 "I can't cope with this"

Meaning: "It's all about me!"

Remedy: "It's all about them!!" Get back to why you are doing it and what others will benefit from you efforts. A warm glow should follow.

No:2 "There's too much to handle!"

Meaning: "I'm out of control with this"

Remedy: "It's all a matter of one-thing-at-a-time!!" Revise your planning and run sheet and look for a way to hand -off three tasks. Do this and the tension will plummet.

No:3 "Why is it always me. I always do these things"

Meaning: "I feel uncertain or confused"

Remedy: "This is the time, this I the place I am the one." Take massive action on the current task till complete, then go ask for a massage. Re-connect with people who lift you up.

No:4 "I'm doing it all myself"

Meaning: "I feel isolated and alone"

Remedy: "I have many other helping in many ways" Take a pen and draw a map of all the people involved and what they are doing. If you genuinely believe there is an imbalance - pick up the phone!

No:5 "I can't wait for this to end"

Meaning: sniff-sniff "My flesh is burning!"

Remedy: "The work is done now I'm having some fun" No burning martyr syndrome please -- gets into the cake!! Look back at the reasons "Why?" and what joy the party will bring to a loved one.

Would they work? Naturally.

A word of warning...

If it is all going too well then that is the time to look a little closer and see what's really going on.

Remember, it's all about pausing and giving yourself permission to have a re-focus, breathe, hook into the appropriate remedy. It's OK. The birthday party planning process is not a smooth one.

Relax and remember the wonderfully crafted line -- a remedy --delivered by Paul Giamati as a room service guy?to Julia Robert in My Best Friend's Wedding. As he took a puff on an?not-supposed-to do-it cigarette, he warmly said to Jules sensing her state of panic:

"This too will pass"

It did for Julia. It did for Thurg and it will for you.

Neal Lohse is the author of Best Birthday Party Idea.com

He describes himself is a Happy Person, Loving Spouse, Cool-Dad, Business Coach, Author, Corporate Philosopher, Event Designer, Education Facilitator, cook-washer-cleaner ...and is in love with a mountain-bike and a pair hiking boots.

The content presented comes from his personal and work experience.