“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” – Marianne Williamson
It is so easy to believe the bad stuff. And there is a lot of bad stuff sometimes, I know. Most of our brains, especially brains with ADHD, or anxiety or depression, trend negative.
I pride myself on having a positive inner narrative, of making sure I keep an eye on the good things inside and around me. I know I am a much happier person that way, much more productive, certainly more pleasant to be around, and with positivity and good energy to share. And I do.
Recently, I identified a place in my mind where Fear had snuck in. In one small area, I had let fear guide me, keeping me from moving ahead on a project. And when I identified fear in one place, I also realized that I had let the fear in one area leak quietly into other areas of my life as well.
Sneaky thing, fear.
Fear was keeping me stuck. I had fear of failing and of succeeding, at the same time. Go figure! Illogical, of course, but sometimes our thoughts are illogical!
I worked through some things over the last week, using tools I have from my coaching practice on my own challenges. The first step is awareness that there is a problem. I completed perspective work, I listened to my intuition, I checked in on my own needs and values. Yes, I coached me with my coaching tools!
And what came to me was, “Fear can be scary, but what if the other side of the fear is AMAZING??
What if this scary thing, when I get through it, results in something totally awesome? Fear wants us to believe that negative things can happen, and they can, but so can amazing things, in equal measure. The AMAZING results are actually more likely than the failure, in this instance.
So let’s ask…. (and we will stick with organizing, though you can swap that word out for anything else you want, too):
What are you afraid of?
- Afraid of failing at organizing?
- Every thing we try is a learning experience, there really isn’t failure there.
- Afraid that organizing might be difficult?
- Ok, but how much more difficult is it to struggle every day?
- Afraid that organizing might be easy, and I’ll realize I should have done it years ago?
- Ok, but why bother beating yourself up about the past? Show past-you some grace and enjoy today’s success.
- Afraid that the path might not be easy or straightforward?
- It won’t be, and that is ok, too.
Now that I am aware that Fear had me stuck, I am looking more to the AMAZING part.
Yes, I have work to do. I already had work to do, now I can do without being afraid, too.
Yes, things may get hard. But things were hard anyway, and now maybe they can also get easier!
Fear is scary, but join me on the other side of Fear for AMAZING!