Many of my clients are consulting me because they are feeling that ‘someday’ has become ‘now’ and they want to know what they should be doing with now. The way they approach it makes it seem like the path they should be walking is a complete mystery and they need me to unveil it for them so they can explore. But most of the time that’s not the case.
It’s rare that someone who is feeling the ‘now’ doesn’t know what they are supposed to be doing. Often they know in detail. The issue they have is that they are afraid to fail. They are afraid that if they do what they are being asked to do, what their heart and soul is crying out for, if they leave the tried and true, proven, common sensical path that they be poverty stricken. They will become laughable nobodies, doomed to live in a box somewhere or in their siblings basement, moving from couch to couch while they hide from the IRS and eat government cheese.
To which I have a couple of things to say: 1) Babies. Babies who are learning to walk fail consistently over and over again, multiple times per day. Is that a problem? Nope. Is it a required part of the process? Yep. Does the Universe fall on their head and the world end? Nope. Do they sometimes get scared or hurt and cry and get frustrated? Yep. Do the people around them make them feel inadequate or lame or losers? Nope. In fact, everyone around them (except maybe the cat. Cat’s don’t care) takes a great interest in what they’re doing, supports them in the process, cheers them on even when they aren’t actually doing it themselves. We hold them in the right position and then give them applause and positive feedback. So why is failure then not the same as failure now? I know, most of us lose that cuteness factor, but still. And don’t tell me that the consequences are bigger because they actually aren’t. Compare the consequences of any action you are taking right now next to the consequences of not being able to walk or of falling backwards and putting a coffee table through your skull. It’s all about perspective, right?
2) Co-creation. (Not procreation. That’s fun too and I know we were talking babies, but get your minds out of the gutter for a moment) If you’re being pushed to be your best self, if everything you are is yearning to do this thing, to live this life, to slip out of the restraints you’ve been living in, then not doing it is the failure. In this case, while trite, the concept is true. The wine does want you to drink it as much as you want to be drinking it. The universe does want you to live your best life, not for some altruistic spiritual mumbo jumbo concept, but for very practical reasons. The universe is just us, well “US”, as in all the animate and inanimate and everything in between that are being, or “being”, here at this time and we’ve been waiting very patiently for you to get your s**t together and start producing from that amazingness that is your soul. So while you’ve been waiting for a sign that you should perhaps do what is absolutely perfect for you, that brings you joy, makes your heart sing, and makes each day a good place to be, we’ve been waiting ever so patiently for you to jump into the deep end of the pool. So what you need is already out here waiting for you to get started. Just signal in any way (words/actions/semaphore/interpretive dance) and the ball will start rolling.
In fact when I work with clients most of them can already spot where things are lining up to support them in the process. Maybe not the way they envisioned it, usually without all the poverty and neediness and self-sacrifice. Often with a lot of change and truth and personal growth and honest (often difficult) conversations. So remember, babies and co-creation. There’s your mission for the day. Start doing what you want to do, laugh at the failing and know that you’re actually succeeding one attempt at a time, in co-creating your best life ever.