do you ever feel as if you are holding back?
not taking that next step in the direction of your dream?
do you ever wonder why?
here are five possible reasons.
1. you have turbulent thoughts.
you sometimes feel unsettled and confused.
the road has been bumpy, somewhat unstable.
what i do:
i listen to my conflicting thoughts.
i write them out.
i try to make sense of the turmoil.
i realize that my body and mind are pointing along a new trajectory.
2. you are scared.
admit it.
even the best have been afraid.
what i do:
i think of the most difficult, most unnerving thing i’ve already gone through.
i conjure up the emotions i experienced at that time.
i determine that it probably won’t get much worse than that.
i pull from that same inner source of strength again.
3. you think you have to do things quickly.
there’s a rush to succeed, a rush to fulfill.
a rush to the future.
what i do:
i typically don’t do things of importance fast.
i get them done, but it takes me awhile.
i brainstorm, i process, i try and try again.
i create and edit and recreate what i want in my life.
4. you believe all movement must result in a coup.
it needn’t be grand, or even attractive.
it will probably be messy and pieced together.
what i do:
i realize what is important and try to let go of my perfectionistic tendencies.
i stumble, i fix.
i go backward before forward.
i try my hardest to embrace the journey.
5. you lack confidence in yourself.
there is still a little kid inside of you.
yearning for acceptance and praise.
what i do:
i remind myself of past triumphs, even the smallest shining moments.
i stop comparing myself to others.
i clearly imagine myself as a highly confident person.
i take the plunge.
why do i feel so comfortable sharing my wisdom about these five dream-stoppers?
because i live them, i push against them, i conquer them.
every.
single.
day.
don’t hold back.
go ahead.
take that next step.
(and tell me about your success.)
I love these, especially the race to the finish line. I definitely fall into the trap of thinking I need to do things NOW, quickly, before I run out of time! But there’s all the time in the world…
Great quotes, as well.
xx
I love this article! I especially like number 3! Life is not a race!! <3 Great post, April!!
Yes, yes, and yes…live, push, conquer. I am on the same wave-length as you. Living through the dips in self confidence, pushing past being perfectionism, and conquering negative or turbulent thoughts. Your wisdom is wonderful, April, and you always have such a simple, yet brilliant way, of making me think.
I love this post. #3 really spoke to me. Thank you for beautiful reminders!
Some other quotes that help me:
“Don’t worry about the time it will take to accomplish something, the time will pass anyway.”
“Small daily improvements are the key to staggering long term results”
“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there”
“Let whatever you do today be enough”
Thanks for the post April!
I think I simply make things so much harder than they need to be! I spend days on a single blog post so you can imagine my overwhelm at the thought of completing a “chapter” let alone a book. My new mantra is,”Tackle a tidbit today.” Just that. Thank you, April. Beautiful post.
When I feel frenetic with too much to do I often step back to see how I can simplify. I remind myself of a quote that has guided me since I read it in college (on a bathroom stall)
‘Success doesn’t come from doing Extraordinary things. It comes from doing ordinary things Extraordinarily well.’
April, such wonderful words for me to consider today. I find myself doing so many of these things that prevent me from living fully & all-in.
Your words “there’s a rush to succeed, … a rush to the future” and “there is still a little kid inside of you.
yearning for acceptance and praise” really spoke to me today. That’s me. Always in a rush. Either looking back and dwelling on the past or looking forward to the adventures of the future but not honoring today and this moment. I want to be better at that. Not because I have to. But because I think it would do me good.
Thanks for these wonderful words of encouragement today. It’s a reminder to me to let go of those 5 reasons I’m not taking the next step and to just step out in faith and risk. In doing so, I’ll grow and get stronger and braver. Thanks for your words of inspiration today.
love this!!! So much I read it wice and really took in what you would do, to remind myself there is another way!! Thank you!
Oh, my word! All of the above resonated with me. I need to chillax! :-p LOVE these quotes, April!
April, Number 3 used to be a huge one for me. I spent many years being reactive, feeling urgency in everything. I have worked hard to change that. It has been life changing.
I’ve danced with all five at different times!!! And have learned over the years to take baby steps. Just one action a day can take you down a long and well travelled road.
I have to say to, I love how you break things down. So simple and clear and yet with meaning. Such beautiful soul in your writing. Love reading it. Looking forward to next weeks already. 🙂
Like everyone else, #3 is the one I struggle with the most. I want to do it all now! Perfectly! But yes, I’m learning that quality takes time and momentum builds slowly. Persistence is key.
I agree with all of these! The one that has always struck me as ironic is that it needs to be done now and it needs to be done BIG. With that attitude, people are much more likely to not take any action. When we allow ourselves to take our time and let things unfold naturally, an amazing thing happens, it gets DONE! It may happen rapidly or slowly, it may be grand or not so grand, but it gets done. Thank you for sharing!
Love this article – have shared it with my husband, as he really ‘suffers’ from #2. I personally tend to not take the next step for a #6 reason not listed here: “you have too many projects on the go”.
This was so beautiful! I love how you have explained with such clarity what is really going on behind each symptom for not taking next steps. I must admit I struggled with #5 for the longest time and then I started implementing advice like the one you have listed and I am witness to its effectiveness! Thanks for sharing.