Hello,
I'm Suzanne and this is a coaching for when your procrastination is a cover and it's really fear in disguise.
Sometimes it seems easier to tackle smaller tasks than it is to start big ones.
We get to tick boxes on our to-do list but keep moving our soul-centered work into next week.
We might clean our desk instead of writing at it.
We might get involved in a drama on social media or check out and numb ourselves with something mindless.
We might start the big project only to allow ourselves to get distracted.
Or we find that every time we sit down to work on it we feel tired.
But when our soul is calling us to do something like write,
Create or share,
We know we'll feel better when we answer that call.
We feel stuck when we know what to do but we're not doing it.
And when we feel stuck it's tempting to think we need more discipline,
Rigor and pushing.
When what we really need is more compassion,
Clarity and play.
Often what's getting in the way is fear and the secret I've learned about fear is to embrace it.
We all learn our own survival skills but many of us are never taught what steps to take to be our brightest,
Biggest selves and shine.
Because what happens when we take even the smallest steps forward into embodying who we know deep down we can be and who we're supposed to be is that fear shows up.
Fear wants to keep you small and quiet.
Fear makes it seem like it's a good idea to hide.
Fear shows up when something's new or different because fear is our protector.
Fear keeps us safe and a lot of times it saves us.
Fear gets us to run from a bear,
Stop from slipping off a ladder and it keeps us attentive while driving a car or a bicycle.
But fear can be overactive and try to shut down everything new and different.
This stops us from moving forward creatively.
It stops us from pursuing our dreams.
We procrastinate and this feels terrible because we know deep down we're out of our integrity.
But we can get unstuck.
We don't have to be fearless.
We don't have to pretend that fear is not there.
When fear shows up you're often doing your most important,
Most meaningful work and fear is going to keep showing up whenever you're doing something big.
Now once you notice fear is showing up the worst thing you can do is try and shut it down.
Because it'll shut at you louder just like it would if there's a grizzly bear in the room and you're ignoring the threat.
The secret to moving forward with your big important work when fear shows up is to acknowledge it.
It might help to give your fear a name like Felix or Frida.
Lots of people name their inner critics the same way because fear and inner critics are best friends who work together to keep you safe,
Stuck and small.
So the fact that you've noticed fear is showing up and trying to stop you from being the creative being you know you are is amazing work.
That noticing is crucial.
The next step is to establish a relationship with fear.
Might feel goofy but practice talking to fear like you would a friend or a family member.
You might say something like hi Felix thanks for showing up to try and protect me.
Yes I'm doing a big thing with this story right now but I've got this.
Or you might say Frida I see you and I know why you're here thank you come sit with me at my desk while I write.
Let's do this big important thing together.
As Elizabeth Gilbert says making friends with fear is like inviting fear to come along on your creative road trip.
She says it isn't always comfortable or easy carrying your fear around with you but it's always worth it.
Good for you for noticing fear.
Now whenever fear shows up embrace it and remind fear and yourself that you're doing something big and important for the world.
Keep going little by little step by step and you'll always be moving forward towards your dreams.
That's courage and you are courageous and daring in your creativity.
When fear is by your side instead of blocking your path you'll be able to fulfill your important and meaningful projects with more ease more flow more energy and more joy.
Now thank fear for showing up to protect you and go directly to your space to fulfill that big important project your soul is calling you to do.
