Starting new projects or moving towards your aspirations can be exciting and scary. Whether we are moving forward in a business venture, job, promotion or relationship, resistance can show up and stop us in our tracks. Resistance or self sabotage can show up in many ways, including, procrastination, avoidance, busyness, perfectionism, and overachieving carefully disguised under the guise of practicality, rationality or safety. This can affect all of us at some point in our lives. Its normal to feel afraid of being seen, judged or criticized. Maybe we experience some form of not good enough or not ready.
I am reminded of a quote by Louise Hay, “You have been criticizing yourself for years and it
hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” Cultivating greater awareness can provide space to be at choice. For example, try observing your thoughts throughout the day. Likely if your best friend talked to you that way, you wouldn’t be friends for long! Yet we listen to the many self deprecating thoughts regularly. The good news is that from awareness we can practice choosing the thoughts that will lead us on the path to what we say we want. We do have the power to choose our thoughts.
Its important to also be mindful of choosing directions for ourselves based on our emotions. Sometimes our emotions can be unreliable as possibility lies outside of our comfort zones. Feelings may have us playing it safe even when there is little threat. So I invite you to consider, how does resistance show up for you? What has you playing small? What may you be avoiding? What is the cost of staying small? What is possible or not possible from this way of being?
Showing up can be the hardest part. What I am learning is that taking ownership and taking consistent action takes vulnerability and courage. It also has many rewards for us if we declare to be brave. As my amazing friend Lisa so beautifully said, “ you were born to shine,
born to shine a light on others, born to be someone no one else could ever be.” We all have
something special to share in the world. Comparison is a trap that we can never win at. What would be possible if you tried on ownership? What is the next brave step to take?
Lastly, when we notice the uncomfortable feelings that arise when we are out of our comfort
zones it can help to express them. Whether it is with a trusted friend or loved one, a journal
entry or a scream in the car. Keep the energy moving, name the fear and take action anyway!
xo Francine
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