“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is
less than the one you are capable of living.”Nelson Mandela
One of the many things I’ve learned over the years, whether from the adversities I’ve faced or the challenges I’ve taken on, is that we are capable of much more than we give ourselves credit for. Too often though, we underestimate ourselves (particularly we women!) and shy away from situations that put us at risk of falling short or making a mistake. And when we do, we beat up on ourselves and interpret our missteps as permanent inadequacies on our part. Which, of course, they are not.
But it doesn’t have to be that way!
The truth is that no one is born with immunity to self-doubt or fear of failure. More so, each of us have the ability to learn how to step through our fears to pursue those things that inspire us and change those which don’t. Yourself included.
You can do more than you think and contribute more than you know.
I recently sat down with Emma Isaacs, CEO of Business Chicks, and an all round pretty cool woman whom I met after relocating back to Australia a couple years ago. Not only has Emma built Australia’s largest professional women’s network with over 35,000 members (and expanding to the USA this July), but she’s raised over $10 million dollars for charities and made a huge impact on many lives along the way. Needless to say, Emma (who is due to have her fourth baby any day) has a wealth of wisdom to share when it comes building a successful business and living a brave life.
Watch my full “Conversation on Courage” with Emma on RawCourage.TV.
When you underestimate yourself, you not only get more anxious about the challenges you’re already facing but you naturally shy away from pursuing bigger ones. In the process you sell yourself, and others, short. Everyone misses out! Having faith in your capacity to solve your problems as they come along can spare you untold stress while enabling you to pursue new challenges that infuse a deeper sense of meaning, excitement and purpose into your life.
As Emma shared with me, too often we think we need to have some brilliant plan before we take on a challenge that is far bigger than us; that we must have all the answers before we start out. Not so! As I discovered myself when I began my second career as a coach with four children under 6, you just have to trust in yourself that you’ll figure things out as you go along and not to take yourself too seriously when plans go awry. (Which, let’s face it, will be often!)
Psychologist William James observed that most people spend their entire lives dwelling in a restricted circle of their potential. So just for today, I challenge you trust that you have all the resources you need within you to handle your current challenges and to take on new ones that will enable you to do more, be more and give more. (Then tomorrow, repeat!)
Don’t wait until you have it all figured out. Rather trust yourself that you’ll figure things out
as you go along. One step at a time. One day at a time.
And if needed, one minute at a time.
As I wrote in Brave, you are capable of far more than you think and can contribute more the you know. We all are. Having the courage to believe that (because that’s exactly what it takes) can totally shift your life because it can exponentially expand the possibilities that become available to you.
So let me ask you, if you dared to let go the self-doubt and trust in yourself that you could handle anything:
- What new goals would you take on?
- What changes would you make?
- What chances would you take?
I’d really love to hear from you so drop me a line below! Who knows, you may even inspire me to being braver too!
Until next time, doubt yourself less, back yourself more and refuse to settle for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
Watch my full “Conversation on Courage” with the brave and big hearted Emma Isaacs on RawCourage.TV.
