Maybe tomorrow. Or maybe next week I will. I will definitely be ready in a month. Whatever that “thing” is that you keep putting off, what are you waiting for? Will you be really be that more prepared in a week or a month from now? It’s easy to let time buffer a launch date. It becomes a safety net that we keep expanding wider and wider, delaying our start little by little. We’ve all done this in both big and small increments, for both big and small things from launching a blog to asking for that promotion or setting up your Etsy shop. It’s easy to view the interim as a safety cushion that will keep you from stepping out of your comfort zone. But in reality, it’s just delaying your truth. It’s putting off that thing you need to get off of your chest or delaying the start of something awesome you’ve been working on or wanting to go after. It feels like a safe place when in reality we’re just sitting in our fear, allowing it to hold us back from taking the next step forward.
Dreams can’t take off unless me ignite them. Not next week or next month or next year but now. “What if’s” are a scary, false trap and we can’t let them hold us back. It took almost a year to finally launch this blog. 1. Because technology is hard for me and WordPress took me forever to figure out. #thestruggle. 2. Because I was scared. I’ll be honest — what if everyone thinks it stinks and that I’m a bad writer and my content is lame? What if everyone says, “Wow, another girl with a blog. How original!” And let’s be real here, I’m sure there are people who say that and that’s okay! But allowing the fear or judgement and fear of failure to set parameters to how I want to live my life will not get me anywhere.
Let go of outside influences
If we let everyone tell us what to do and how to do things our lives would be very different. We would never fully come into our own and have the power to be our true, authentic selves. Many individuals come from a well-intentioned place, with only hopes to help you and offer their sincere opinions. This is kind and loving of them but when it comes down to it, the only opinion you really need to focus on is your own. You already know what is right. When you get quiet, you can feel it. It’s in your heart, you daydream about it. The thought of doing it makes you giddy and excited. The only way to reach that level of personal fulfillment is by following your intuition. Let go of the outside chatter because when it comes down to it, your real tribe is going to be there supporting you and cheering you on the whole way. All that you need to know about your path is inside of you. Listen to your inner voice.
Fear of failure
Failure is not my favorite word. At all. What does it even mean? Can we actually determine failure when it comes to going after our hopes, dreams and desires? To me, failure can’t be measured. It implies that you lose something. When you go after your hopes and dreams, you don’t lose no matter the outcome. You gain insight and experience, you learn more about yourself than you ever knew you could. You watch your armor slowly begin to fall off. You push yourself, you try things you never knew you had the courage to do, fresh thoughts and ideas pour into your mind and invigorate you. Outcomes are not always what we anticipate. Things come up and life happens but we grow and evolve. We change course, we adjust our sails and we keep going. You’re not going to “fail.” You’re going to evolve and grow and share your gifts. And in turn, you’ll inspire those around you to do the same. When you shine authentically, you give others around you the strength to do the same.
Just do it
Time to finally press “go.” This is the tough part, my friends. You’ve done the work, prepared and put the effort in. You’re looking at your to-do list and realizing there’s nothing left to cross off. There’s no way this is true? You frantically begin Googling ideas and other things that maybe you need to add before you launch. You consider adding a new chapter, an additional feature, more material to add to your talking points. Slowly back away from the search engine. While it may seem that you’re simply trying to add additional goodness to your project, I’m going to call out what you’re really up to….stalling! I know because I’ve done it countless times. You begin to question everything you done and may even convince yourself that it sucks so obviously everything must be changed. Stop that madness. Take in all of your hard work and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. Take some full, deep breaths. You did it. Allow yourself to smile. All there’s left to do is launch it. No more “what if'” and “coulds.” You are ready to go — just do it.
Have full faith in whatever it is that you’ve set your heart after. Go after your big, crazy ideas with faith in all of your power, wisdom and heart. If you feel a calling to do something, there’s a reason for it. The hardest stinking part is just doing it. Release the outside opinions and your inner fears and just do it. Once you do you will feel such relief and giddiness and excitement — it’s awesome. I know because it’s the process I went through in launching my blog. I delayed it so much because I was so scared that I would suck or everyone would boo me off the Internet. But it didn’t happen. I’m not focused on the numbers or tied to any results because I’m doing something I love doing and it makes me happy. If you follow a path that brings you joy and contentment, you really can’t go wrong.
x,
Morgan