Thinking partners make a huge difference in our lives. Even when we don’t immediately need them, there’s comfort in knowing we have people we trust to go to with our questions and concerns. But what about those times when there is no trusted advisor around to help? When we are all we have? Many years ago, during one of those times in my own life, I created a statement that helped me move forward in moments of uncertainty:
“I am courageously standing in the unknown, dancing in diversity, igniting the heart and soul of humanity, with an explosion of joyful self-expression. I am an adventure of a lifetime.”
Practicing this taught me that, at the times when we feel there is nothing else we can do, we can stand with courage and face what we do not yet understand. In those moments, when fear of the unknown threatens to steal our joy, diminish our vision, and stop our momentum, we can stand with courage and face whatever comes.
I still practice this when I need to get out of my own head, away from the doubts, uncertainties, and stinkin’ thinkin’ trying to hold me back or pull me down. Sometimes, we’re stuck. We don’t have the knowledge or perspective we need to feel complete. And that’s okay.
It’s been said that the oldest and strongest human emotion is fear. And the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown, so it’s no wonder that is feels so natural to try to look for a familiar reference point and try to make the unknown, known. My encouragement for you, today, is to understand it’s possible to stand in the unknown with a completely new awareness, to allow the unknown to create a new awareness: a new idea, a new solution, a new perspective. This happens best when we give ourselves permission to be courageously present in the unknown. So, next time you find yourself stuck because of something unfamiliar or uncertain, try this and see if it fits:
“I am courageously standing in the unknown, dancing in diversity, igniting the heart and soul of humanity, with an explosion of joyful self-expression. I am an adventure of a lifetime.”
Create a great day.
Onboarding: Questions to help you Build the Best Team Possible
In our most recent blog, we began a conversation about how to build an environment where your team members felt safe to succeed. It’s important, at this point, to step back and address an aspect of this process that often is missed: how to onboard the best...
Is Your Team A Safe Place to Succeed?
Recently, I re-watched a TED Talk by Simon Sinek titled, “Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe.” In it, Sinek discusses different approaches to leadership, as well as the consequences, for the team and the leader, of these approaches. Sinek opens the talk...
Why Our Visions Need Room to Grow
When I’m working with leaders stuck in a rut and struggling to meet their goals, there are often a few common factors holding them back. One of the most common is a misunderstanding of what visions are and what they are supposed to do. Here’s an example of...
When personal growth is not enough
When you break it all down past all the advice and clichés and truisms, effective leadership is really about one fundamental action: Inspiring others inside a growing vision. When we invest our energy and talent in this, and we allow our choices to be...
Personal Growth Planning: A lesson from Shark Tank
In our last blog, we answered a question about the importance of having a Personal Growth Plan. A common follow up question I’ve encountered is “Can you still be successful if you don’t have a plan?”In a word: Yes.While it’s possible to be successful...
Hey Trish, what’s the point of a personal growth plan?
Today, I’m reaching into my mailbag and replying to a question I received recently. Ed in Tampa asked:“Hey Trish, this might sound like an obvious question, but you talk a lot about personal growth plans. What is that, and why do I need one?” Thanks for...
0 Comments