Whoa! Slow down!
Are you flying by the seat of your pants, rushing from one thing to another? I get it...we all do that from time to time, rushing to get to the end so you can move on to the next thing...and in some situations, it's perfectly fine. Where it's not fine? In those onetime high-stake situations where there's no do-over and your outcome matters significantly.
When you're a high achiever you tend to have your eye on the next thing and the idea of slowing down can be difficult to sit with. It's always 'on to the next thing'... that's cool...until you're finding that you're not getting any traction on that next thing, that's when slowing down makes sense.
Think of it like a car spinning its wheels on an ice patch...hitting the gas doesn't help. What does? Backing up a little, looking at the situation, deciding where you want to go and then slowly putting your foot back on the gas pedal. Knowing where you want to get to...being clear.
It sounds counter intuitive and it's true...to gain momentum, sometimes you have to slow down and get really clear first and then go and execute.
Clear on what?
The endgame. Your outcome. Your intention. The obvious but sometimes forgotten critical step.
Being crystal clear on what you want, being specific.
Why does it matter?
The more specific you are about your desired outcome, the easier it is to prepare for it and the more likely you are to be successful in getting it. Especially when you're in a situation where others want to get something too.
There are things you can do to prepare, to get clear and confident and more likely to get what you want.
Why does this matter?
When you're prepared for situations and you know what you want…you're able to respond rather than react, you can anticipate potential blips and be equipped with a calm confidence rather than scramble and lose your end goal.
It's a practice. So...let's practice!
Are you ready?
Let's get to it...
Your challenge...
Pick an upcoming situation where being more confident will be useful.
Ask yourself:
What do I want to get out of this situation?
If you don't know, take some time now to really think about it.
Once you've decided what you're outcome is...
Prepare!
Here are a couple of tips to consider for your preparation.
Think of that goal you want or a bite sized part of it. Then take five minutes and imagine the following:
Picture yourself already achieving the goal you want. Where are you? Who's there?
Imagine how you behaved, what did you do that helped you achieve that goal.
Think of a skill or capability you have that was instrumental in achieving this goal.
What did you believe about yourself and your identity that made this achievement possible?
You can think through this and visualize or if you prefer, you can journal the answers. Notice what feels different about your goal when you do this exercise.
Remember...the person who shows up with a clear outcome and prepares for it is far more likely to get it.
Want to learn more about how a few sessions with me can dramatically increase your confidence? Contact me I guarantee you'll be glad you did!
Warmly,
Ann
Whoa…slow down!!