You are beautifully, amazingly, (sometimes) frighteningly, and reliably human. That means you “make mistakes,” screw up your business trajectory, say the wrong things to the ones you love and make really dumb decisions. Accept it.
Then, forgive yourself. Move on.
Where’s the lesson? There’s always a lesson. Are you looking for it or feeling victimized by it? Or are you “at the effect of” it?
It’s too easy to quit. When things get tough, you might begin the process of quitting without even admitting to yourself that you’re doing it. You might start to make what seems like very logical arguments for why it doesn’t make sense to pursue your dream or how easy it would be to let that goal slip. You begin molding your thoughts and self into socially acceptable reasons for being just like everyone else.
So, while you are just like everyone else in that you’re human – and you are no more important than anyone else – you do have a miraculous dream that is uniquely yours. If you let yourself. Your dream is particular to you. You don’t have to move mountains with your dream. Or, you can. Your dream might seem tiny. But you know that, in truth, it’s not.
But I’m sure you know by now that the ripple effect of changing even one life can be huge.
So my question is: where do you stop? Where’s your “terror hurdle?” What happens that gives you the excuse you need to let your dream slide by the wayside, into the deeper recesses of your being, where you can say:
Next time.
Maybe later.
It’s not that important.
My life is fine as it is.
I’m too busy.
When something happens, like you have a less than ideal client push your boundaries to the nth degree or your friend tells you just to “let it be” and to stop trying so hard because they simply don’t understand your dream– how can they? It’s your dream, not theirs – do you use it as more fuel to feed your quitting argument, your “it’s not worth it” internal dialogue?
Maybe you don’t know exactly what that dream is. A lot of people don’t. That’s why finding your purpose is so important. (And why I have a business!) It’s not just fluff. It’s your substrate. It’s your source connection. But, because it isn’t as “real” as not having enough money to buy the new car or invest in your business, it’s too easy to put off. Bury. Ignore.
You are here to be the fullest expression of who you can be. Do you really want to quit? Do you really want to let your dreams, passions, goals slip into the oblivion of every day busy-ness so that you look back one day and say “I wish I’d….”
Don’t let those who don’t embark on their dream path take you off yours. You must keep your juices flowing, your inspiration pumped, your “tribe” by your side. You must make incremental, baby steps (which lead to quantum leaps) every single day (with time off for self-care). You must never allow the luxury of a negative thought. It is like a virus that spreads, and becomes “logical” explanations for why you should quit.
Sure, you’ll have bad days. Of course you’ll have times when you want to quit. But don’t. Please don’t. There are those out there waiting for you. The essential you is waiting for you to let her out. In a big, badass kind of way.
Eleanor Roosevelt said,
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
Sometimes that one thing is getting back in the game. Giving it one more shot because it’s your dream.
Of course it scares you. If it didn’t scare you, it wouldn’t be big enough.
Step out of the social mold that tells you why you can’t. Step into true belief.
And dammit! Do one thing every day that scares you. It’s really okay.