Here’s a key career boosting tip so you can build up your courage to do all the things you really wanna do – so you can live the life you wanna live.
Do you keep threatening to pursue your truest passions – but keep coming up with excuses not to move forward?
I relate. Truly!
I wasn’t always a full-time bestselling author and designer.
Over a decade ago I was a Sr. Vice President Creative Director in advertising, who was always threatening to quit my high-paying, high-stressing, low-free-time job to pursue my passion for writing.
But I was like the girl who cried wolf. Always saying I was gonna quit. But not doing it.
Admittedly there was a huge part of me that was afraid.
Not just about the money angle.
I was afraid to let go of a lovely fantasy about a parallel universe in which I existed as “Happy-Go-Lucky Author Girl.”
I was afraid to potentially risk giving up this fantasy – in case my fantasy didn’t come true.
Chogyam Trungpa wrote this beautiful quote about courage.
“True fearlessness is not the reduction of fear;
but going BEYOND fear…
by fear-less we don’t mean ‘less fear’ …but ‘beyond fear.'”
I knew I needed to get to this beyond-fear place.
Here’s how I finally built up my courage.
I thought about how it’s easier to walk a plank that’s on solid ground, instead of a plank that’s plunked above an alligator-infested lagoon.
Why?
Because the fear of those yapping hungry alligators makes you less focused on what you desire.
The same is true with building up courage in your career.
- You must avoid staring at your metaphorical alligators.
- Instead you must stay focused on your supporting plank.
In the land of your career your supporting plank is composed of two strong fibers:
- Confidence — what you know you have going for you
- Passion — what you know you really want
When I finally did quit my ad career, it was because I finally stopped staring at my metaphorical alligators – which consisted of these yapping thoughts…
“I’ll never be a published book author!
Heck, I’ve never even written one itty bitty magazine piece!
Geez, what will I do for income if I fail?
After all, I have a child to support… MYSELF!”
Instead I focused on my supporting plank, which consisted of…
confidence (in my writing-skills, discipline, persistence, resilience, optimism, meeting people, learning quickly, following-through)
passion (my excitement to be a writer in a BIGtime way!)
Recap: Career Boosting Tip To Build Up Courage
- If you’re stuck in a job you hate it’s probably because you’re staring at your metaphorical-alligators.
- Today re-focus on your supporting plank.
- Make a list of your areas of high self esteem and reasons for high passion.
- Whenever fear strikes, strike back with these lists!
Get more tools to build up courage
Check out my bestselling book, Think Happy
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It’s the perfect gift for someone you want to cheer on or cheer up – including yourself!
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