This week, I’ve been teaching a Mindset Masterclass, so people can learn how to do Thought Work on their own and coach themselves for growth. In talking to people that have been taking the class, I’m starting to recognize 3 very similar thought patterns that are holding them back from really experiencing the benefits that personal growth can bring.
First, dismissing it as something “other people do”. They wished they could be a person who does big things with their life, but it’s just not really them. Only you get to decide what you want to do with your life, but if your ideal life doesn’t match where you are today, why not go after that with everything you have? With every step towards the ideal, life gets better and better. And that is available to everyone, not just a select few. Your ideal life doesn’t have to be anything glamorous. It could even mean downsizing from where you are at. The key is that it’s something you create intentionally.
Second, doubting their own ability to create change in their life. Spending time, effort and even money on change is scary. I get it because I’ve been there too. I’ve invested in programs and held myself back. I’ve showed up as “uncoachable” and resistant to everything my coach wanted me to try. You know what I realized? The worst thing that can happen with any of this, is a feeling. That’s right. At the end of the day, you could experience failure, uncertainty, doubt, and vulnerability. But those are just physical sensations in your body, nothing else. So if that’s the worst thing that could happen, why not go after it?
Third, you’re hesitant to go “all in” for fear of what it would create. It’s funny what fear does. One minute we doubt our ability to create anything and the next minute we are scared of all the success we could have. It’s like having one foot on the gas and one on the brakes, inching through life in tiny increments of stopping and starting. But what if you go “all in” and are completely safe, even when you are stretching yourself in new ways?
Whether you simply try Thought Work for 30 days and see what it can do for you, you go all in and sign up for coaching or land somewhere in between, you simply can’t go wrong if you continue moving forward and go after your goals.