Many years ago, I read an article about a group of peacemakers called The Elders and was so inspired that I put it on my vision board and cut out letters to go on top, which spelled out: Help Create Solutions. I was completely inspired and at that very moment I was thinking big. I want to help create solutions on a global level too! I can travel the world and do what I do best, helping people solve problems in their own lives so that they then become inspired to solve problems in their communities, thus eventually solving problems globally. I love being caught in these circles of inspiration. All of this sparked by the article I read about powerful individuals coming together to solve problems and helping create peace in various countries. I was in a positive frame of mind, trying to think of all the ways I could contribute and do great things.
But that didn’t last. Soon enough, I was sucked back into day-to-day blah-ness and energy-sucking rat races. I brought myself back down to earth, hard, when I began the work of growing my coaching practice and became immersed in the not-so-global tidbits of how to sustain myself while doing what I loved. Create a Facebook page, Set up a Mail Chimp account for e-newsletters, Create some marketing material, Keep blogging, and on and on and on. I had reality constantly staring me in the face and there was no time (or money) for dreaming. My world had gotten much smaller.
A while into this roller coaster ride called reality, I was blogging one day and referred to The Elders. I went to their site to catch the link and lo and behold there was a job opening listed on their site that I was somewhat qualified for! My heart fluttered immediately and I committed to applying, knowing full well that I would quickly cave to the voices in my head that were throwing at me all the reasons why I shouldn’t bother.
I spent the next several days brushing up my resume and calling on a few friends who could give me feedback on my cover letter. I let myself dream about living in London (yes, I would have to move for the position, but I didn’t let that stop me from applying) and began to imagine the opportunities I would have and the countries I would get to see. I’m not a great job applier but I wanted to let my passion shine through, so I didn’t worry as much about adhering to the rules of a properly written cover letter. I instead let myself speak from the heart, explaining how the article I had read years before had inspired me so. The application process had completely taken over my thoughts that week, and I didn’t do much else so I could get it in before the deadline.
Did I think I had a chance? Not at all. But I knew I had to honor that original feeling of excitement that I felt when I first saw the job opening. And even as I was mentally compiling a list of all the reasons why I wasn’t qualified for the job, I knew I couldn’t ignore the fact that my heart had moved so noticeably at first; a feeling that doesn’t come around too often. Or if it does, I probably stifle it or pretend that it didn’t happen because whatever I was excited about is such a long shot. The negative voice usually takes over before the heart-fluttering can fully take affect. I haven’t got time to turn my attention to such fantasies. My to-do list has me all booked up. And besides, I’d have to move to an expensive city. What would I do with my house? And even if I got the job, they’d certainly find out that I wasn’t really qualified. And on and on and on down that spiral of talking-myself-out-of-something-I-really-want.
That experience now informs my coaching. With my clients (and friends), I often remind them of how excited they were about something that they’ve since talked themselves out of. If they can just take that action, even amidst the energy of gathering all the evidence that proves they shouldn’t go for it…they’ll hit a whole new level of growth. Acknowledging that original feeling of giddiness they had in the pit of their stomach, and then honoring it… that means something. That feeling is coming from the heart. It’s most likely coming from a place that holds their potential.
So it’s your turn. Remember a recent scenario where you felt your heart move in response to an opportunity. Did you talk yourself out of it? If the opportunity is still available, take action regardless of the potential outcome. If not, watch yourself the next time it happens; remember your original excitement and take action even as the negative self-talk tries to paralyze you. Trust me, it will feel amazing!
