If you don’t feel like you’re doing enough

I’m still in a fairly large business pivot that’s slowly revealing itself and pointing me to new territory. I’ve mentioned before that transitions and the messy middle can be deeply unsettling. I’m sure many of you can relate to the feeling of wanting things to unfold faster and with greater ease and clarity than feels possible when you’re in it.

As things unfold, I know I need space to listen to the whispers of my own mind and heart. This requires releasing a decent amount of self-pressure to move things along and get into action. Transitions require stillness. Stillness requires trust that you’re doing enough to support the emergence of whatever is next. 

I found a way to find that trust that I want to share with you.
 

A journey in building trust that you’re doing enough


A newer mentor of mine lives in Oregon and invited me to come for a couple of days to their home. Though they live only a three-hour drive from my house, in a gorgeous part of our state, I hadn’t been to that area since immediately following my corporate career. As I launched my business seven years ago, I embarked on a solo road trip exploring the Pacific Northwest, which also introduced me to the part of Oregon I now call home. 

Two weeks ago, as I found myself cresting the mountain pass into the town where my mentor lives, I was flooded with a perspective that eliminated my self-chatter about whether I was doing enough. I passed by a small coffee shop where I recalled that time seven years ago, sitting in the window setting up my bookkeeping software and signing up for other software that would support my business. I could recall sitting in an outdoor park famous in the area, lying in the sun and taking coaching calls with some of my first clients. I could recall the feeling of just getting started and how little I knew. 

What hit me as I recalled some of those early moments in this town was absolute awe about how little I knew what would unfold in these last seven years. That version of me from those years ago would have never been able to predict or plan my work that’s unfolded, the great majority of which I’ve absolutely loved. I didn’t have even a sliver of understanding about what was truly possible in the journey that lay ahead of me. 

Upon arriving at my mentor’s house, I joked that I’d already gotten what I’d come for. I’d found trust that whatever unfolds would be great and just right for me. I could relax my tendency to think that I should make things happen and settle back into believing that I’ll receive unexpected opportunities that will help shape my path. I’d developed an appreciation for a path that is full of small steps of following my interest and heart and knowing that can lead to a deeply impactful and satisfying career. I’d remembered it’s OK, delightful even, to not be able to see where everything is leading. 
 

How to evoke that journey for yourself


It can be so hard to remember all that’s unfolded to lead you to where you are today. I encourage you to think back to a vacation you took at least five and up to 10 years ago. Build a vibrant picture of it in your mind. Refer back to the photos if it’s helpful.

Where did you go?

Who were you with?

What was happening in your life at the time?

What questions were you holding about your life or career then? 

Put yourself back in that version of yourself, and get curious about what her life was like.

Once you have that view, ask yourself: 

  • What stands out to you about what’s unfolded from that time?

  • What’s surprised you?

  • What’s gone according to plan?

  • What perspective does that offer you about your current path unfolding in this moment?

Shine On, 

Alicia

(Image by Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels)

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