Hello loves,Confidence comes from taking action, but we often focus too much on the logistics to get started. I’ve spoken about lowering the bar before, and still I am shocked at how far I have to take it down to get myself moving. I have recently taken to qualifying the activities I want to pursue to make them less intimidating—making ‘bad’ art, reading ‘pointless’ books, doing ‘random’ workouts etc. It might sound counter-intuitive, but thinking about things this way has helped me relax and enjoy the process. We are wired to think the reward for making an effort is some kind of product (a pleasing painting, a talking point, killer abs) when in reality the reward is the action itself. The doing is what builds self efficacy, whether or not we are ‘successful’. It’s not even about making progress towards your goals, though that is a nice benefit. When we engage in behaviors we desire, we close the gap between our fantasy selves and who we actually are in this moment and come into alignment. Deprogramming this attachment to specific outcomes is part of the work of getting out of our own way. When we approach these activities with less pressure and more joy we can surprise ourselves with how good it feels. No one is checking your work—you get to decide what counts. Know someone who would benefit from this message? Forward them this newsletter, or better yet have them sign up for a 20 minute discovery call so I can practice my elevator pitch.
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