This month, November 2021, I am doing something BRAND NEW in my business. It requires over 30 emails, 3 landing pages, 4 tasks, a masterclass and well, the list goes on.
As we are all aware, we are not one thingGoing off with a bang!, we are the sum of our parts and self has different parts/aspects. As a result, I am experiencing mixed feelings, mixed thoughts and mixed messages about what I am embarking on.
A part of me is very excited about this.
A part of me is a bit scared.
A part of me is tired already.
A part of me is going with the flow.
A part of me thinks this is going to be the “best thing since sliced bread.”
A part of me is panicking that I’ll never get it all done.
A part of me thinks this will “make” my business.
A part of me is trying to make it perfect.
A part of me thinks this will be the answer to everything.
A part of me is wondering why I’m bothering.
A part of me thinks this won’t work for me.
…..there are more but I won’t carry on, I think you get the idea.
I do love the different parts of self and how they each turn up with their own story. In the past, this mixture of feelings, thoughts and messages would lead me to become overwhelmed and/or procrastinate. It may even have led to me second guessing myself and actually not getting the task completed.
A part of me is now very aware of the fact that other parts of me have differing views on anything and everything I embark on. A part of me has learnt to respectfully listen and appreciate all the points of view, to soothe the ones that are scared and to embrace the ones that are onboard.
The biggest stumbling block or challenge or hurdle for me is that there is a part of me that wants it to be perfect and for it to be the biggest, shiniest, and best it can. This part of me wants it to “go off with a bang” and for it to be seen by others as a success. This part of me has already set an expectation and is basing its version of success on outside validation. Another part of me is not a fan of expectation (if you’ve ever worked with me, you’ll know that). Instead, I like anticipation.
Anticipation is not about being lazy, you still have to do the work, but it lets you enjoy the process more and to not make yourself ill while doing it.
I work with the part of me that wants it to be perfect and the biggest, shiniest, and best it can be. I work with this part of me every day. This part of me receives validation from other parts of me. I am already successful because I have already taken the first step – this soothes that part of me.
If I simply focused on and fully believed that part of me that wants it to be perfect and the biggest, shiniest, and best it can be then I would never move forward in my business. I would become paralysed by perfection and would end up burning out. I know this because I’ve done this before.
Today I invite you to be curious the next time you are doing something new. What do the different parts of self think and feel? Where are your mixed messages? How can you soothe the parts of you that aren’t on board with the process?
I also invite you to remember that not all brand new things have to “go off with a bang” for all the world to see. This may be a story that a part of you tells you to stop you moving forward and to keep you where you are. The fear of it not “going off with a bang” is enough for many of us to stay exactly where we are, even if where we are is not where we want to be.
Until next time,
Best wishes
Philippa x