Playing Small?

Have you been playing it small lately? 

Sometimes you may notice that you are in this funny place where there isn't much movement or growth. You're sorta stuck. You may have every. reason. in. the. book. to. stay. stuck.

But, how well is staying stuck working for you? There are reasons why many of us bump upon those stuck moments and have a hard time moving or moving ever. soooo. slowly.

Here's the thing; I believe that we get stuck for more reasons than the (very valid) excuses we have. Yes, maybe we have spices of low self esteem, doubtful voices, and maybe there are some very, very valid points as to why we aren't moving in the direction that we need and want to . 

But, I think there's also this funny comfort we have with staying in "stuckness". It's terrifying to notice what life would feel like if we actually moved with every action step we hit upon. NO, you don't need to run into a manic spin of running in millions of directions. But, what if you actually chose one tiny goal and moved with it? Do you know what would happen with making tiny tiny movements? You'd move. You'd actually move big time! 

And movement. That's a big deal. It's good and exciting and at the same time it's terrifying. What does that say about you and your possiblilities  that lie ahead? 

I believe that there is this fear of success that all of us in the human race experience. 

The crippling worry about noticing our power. Something about looking ourselves in the mirror makes us want to run the other way. The reason is a blend of components. It's kinda scary and sometimes frustrating to see ourselves. Seeing the rawness of who we are. Looking at our inner self. The big parts, the small parts, the happier parts, the whole parts, the broken parts and the sad parts. They all exist. And in terms of movement, we may get stuck in noticing the cracks and the smaller parts than the bigger, more whole parts of ourselves.

At the same time, the only way we will get anywhere is when we take a magnifying lens to the strengths.

Even if they are small islands that are separated from each other. Small areas of freakin' strength. They are there. You've got 'em because you exist today and you are in the struggle of "should I do this/should I not do this?". The fact that you are on this bridge means that you have those confident parts in conversation with your doubtful parts of yourself. 

One of my favorite quotes is Marianne Williamson's quote about each of us on this planet. Here it is: 

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

How did that land? 

Yes, it's pretty true, ay? Something terrifies us when we notice our capabilities and the world of opportunity. It's scary, because to be honest, some of us have been let down. So the thing called "hope", it's blended with some worrisome ideas. Possibilities may be blended with some other unknown feelings that aren't all that comforting. 

And if you’re like most of us, we've all got those fears. Some more recent, some more deep rooted in our core beliefs.

"I can't be successful"

"I don't deserve to be happy"

"I can't image life actually feeling good"

"How could someone as broken as me make a difference"

"I've been told I won't ever 'Make It', So I don't know how I can even try"

"Every time I start something new, it gets messed up right away or soon after trying "

Regardless of where it's coming from or what the specific belief is, you can shift it. You can listen to it, lean in to it and at the same time create movement and do that one tiny step we spoke of earlier. 

Take a moment to sit with what happens with you imagine taking that one step. Sit with it for literally 60 seconds and then set a plan of action. Yes, no more thinking; Just Do it (yes, like nike! commercial).

Do it and then check back in. How was that? 

If you couldn't do it, you've got some uncovering to do for yourself; you owe yourself the relief and "feel good" feelings that come with movement. 

And for those who could do it; see how the relief feels. How can you set your next goal (next week, not right now)?  

Make a mini promise to yourself to embrace your authenticity.

Your Power. Your endless Possibilities.

You got this!