What’s now? What’s next?

When you’re lost, confused, or feeling self-doubt, these questions can be stable foundations: “What’s now?” and “What’s next?”

What’s now? — What is really happening? What’s real and what’s imagined? How am I framing this challenge?

What’s next? — What is my next move? What are my options? What are all of my options? And very importantly: What’s the smallest step I can take in the right direction?

(HT to Scott, who has reminded me of these questions more than once.)