Melissa Cynova Sometimes, I have a lot of readings in a bunch that address the same issue. I then write about it so I can get it out of my brain. This is one of those articles.
I work a fairly robust 40 hours a week at a challenging job. I’ve got two curious, wonderful kids, a partner whom I adore and love spending time with. Two dogs, two cats, a tortoise (Phil) and an army of good friends. And this website. And a book in progress, and one being released in April 2017 (that is available for preorder here, btw.) and another book squatting like a toad in my brain, and readings to do. I have all of these things.
So why, I ask you, do I find myself sitting on the couch, playing Lego Harry Potter until I collect ALL OF THE THINGS? For hours. I could legit sit on my couch and play this game while listening to books for an entire day and I would be FINE. And yet – I can’t shake the ‘get off yer ass’ vibe that starts percolating whenever I do it for Too Long. You know that feeling? When your down time has become procrastination? When you realize that you’re not just chilling out, you’re actively ducking away from your life?
That’s what I want to talk about today. Why do we DO this? Why do we hamstring ourselves on the path to success? I’m not speaking rhetorically here, nor do I have all of the answers, but I think I can at least provide what helps me.
Why?
- Because of fear – what if we succeed?
- Because of the Imposter Police – who are we to assume we can do good things?
- Because it’s easy. SO much easier than getting off our butts.
- Because if we don’t try, we can’t fail.
These are the best reasons I can come up with. I’m sure we’ve all got our own versions of these. The solution, turns out, is a little exercise my friend, Keva taught me. Ready?
Write down your fears.
On the next page, write down the opposite thing.
(Ex. No one will want to read my writing. Next Page? I will be a successful as HELL author.)
Take the first page of fears and burn it. Bury it. Send it away from you. Carry the positive page with you on the daily. Read it. Laminate it. Believe it. I use mine as a bookmark, and I see it every time I open a book. (which is often)
Now, you have your motivation – all of these things that you want – health, success, wealth, happiness – all of them, are within your reach. You just have to get off your ass and get them. Well, you and me, both.
I think that the first step is realizing that we are human, and that sometimes making a blanket fort in the living room and hiding out is important. What is equally important, though, is realizing when it’s time to come out and reach for the life you dream about. It’s right there. Waiting for you.
xo LIS