Don’t Forget What Brought You to this Moment

It’s what they don’t show, and what we don’t talk about.  It’s after the movie is over and the character needs to stay the course of the wonderful new life journey they’ve started.  They don’t show it because it isn’t as exciting.  We don’t talk about it because we’re embarrassed.  What would they think if after ALL THIS we share how it’s mundane, hard, frustrating, and making you question why you are even doing this.  But don’t stuff your feelings or give in to the temptation to throw in the towel just yet. You can do this.

The best way to get back on the horse is to remember…all the compelling reasons you are at this place, tackling fear and slaying doubt. No one sets out to push themselves through incredible anxiety, seemingly crazy odds, unless they must.  So when you get stuck in the Middle where it gets hard to see the finish line, when the results are coming in fast enough, and you wonder if they ever will…

Remember.  Yes, really remember. Your Why.

What it Was that Happened that Created Your Desire to Change?

Pain.  It really is a powerful motivator, probably better than moving toward Pleasure.  We feel pain until it becomes so darn bad we can’t stand it anymore, and we are tired of being sick and tired. The moment must have come that was, I think, the culmination of all the things you had been learning, realizing, and walking through.  The internal shift when you started loving yourself more and therefore needing better in your life. The emotional pain became unbearable as you could no longer go back.  You could only move forward.  Think back to this pain when you get complacent, scared or frustrated with your progress.

How You Were Unhappy. Another, more subtle form of emotional pain is just feeling blah.  Not excited, passionate about how your life is, nor were you content.  Maybe you took the safe route: the stable job where the money is ok but you’re not using your gifts.  The relationships you are really settling for because you were afraid to reach out for better and you needed to set boundaries. No, perhaps you weren’t in crisis, but you certainly didn’t have much of a pulse.

Dreams You Promised Yourself. Maybe you were one year older and processing the fact that you aren’t going to be able to kick the can down the road any longer if you want to finally honor what has been on your heart for years.  The things you promised yourself you would at least try to make happen. This one is easy to forget because it isn’t on fire perhaps as the other examples, but it matters.  Life is going by.  You deserve to be happy, to use your gifts to do and create wonderful things.

Oh there may be many more examples you find as you think about this.  The important thing is to know it’s normal to lose steam midway through.  You’re out of adrenaline and/or anger about the pain you were in, and you can’t see the end yet.  Just keep the WHY at the front and allow yourself to feel the feelings of then.  Recommit to what matters most.

Then get back on the horse.  You have places to go.