One of the most difficult moments in creating—whether it’s a business, a book, a piece of art—or joining something is the story we tell ourselves about the perfect time. And it’s really tricksy because it isn’t always the big perfect like when I’ve won the lottery or something on that scale, then I will begin. It’s usually something in our daily life that we think we might get to shortly. So it feels really reasonable to wait for that before we get going. After all this project is important to us! It deserves those special conditions for us to be able to give our best.
In reality the only thing about waiting for those conditions that is for sure is that we won’t start on our dream today or now. And that’s a bummer.
I caught myself doing this recently. I have a really fun idea for my next book and I was waiting for my winter house-sitting gig to start because when I was there I would have more space and time to do it well. (Did you catch that?) The gig got pushed a few weeks and for a short moment I let it dampen the project in my head entirely. I was convinced I needed what my brain considered the perfect conditions to work on the project. In fact that attachment to future circumstances just kept me from starting at all! I got stuck and the project started to feel heavier and icky. Luckily I caught myself and talking with a brilliant friend reminded me that we all need to hear stories like this to help us recognize this self-constraint when we can.
There is a lot in this world that tries to convince us that we shouldn’t do our thing. We need to make sure we aren’t one of them, as imperfectly as we can manage.
I love watching my clients push past this and it was fun to catch myself this time. It’s honestly why I wrote A Little Book of Permission, because for me it was always about what I didn’t have to do first before I could start.
You’ve got this.
Susie
PS. Check out Resiliency Club or shoot me a message so we can discuss what might be right for you. If you want some quick help learning how to make decisions and take action check out my short audio course How to Give Yourself Permission.
