Deciding feels empowering. When you finally make up your mind that you are going to achieve a particular goal, you are filled with a calmness. It’s only when I sit on the fence that I feel trepidation. A dear mentor of mine used to joke “Do you know what sitting on the fence will get you? (answer = splinters in your butt)”. There’s just something about making up your mind that helps.
Too often, though, the next stage is “but how do I do that?” and all kinds of personal doubt and fear begin seeping into your decision. The “who, what, where, when, how?”, creeps into your rosy decidedness and your calmness flies out the window.
When this happens, I do several things. First, I mentally stand firm – get determined – to take whatever actions it will require to accomplish the goal I decided on achieving. I commit to myself that I will go the distance. I act like a coach, telling myself I can do it, that I have what it takes, and that I’m “in it to win it”. Mentally, it sounds like a high school track meet rally. A little cheesy perhaps, but I would recommend you try it for yourself before you knock it. It works for me.
Next, I make a list of what I think it will take to accomplish my goal. I do this lightly and creatively, capturing all I can (see the project management 101 post to get more detail.) I include in this listing an honest recognition of my abilities. Just like the children’s story about the little engine that could, I tell myself “I think I can”. I don’t count on mantras or positive self talk to make me a gold medal gymnast if I can’t even do a cartwheel, but if I’ve done tasks before (or know someone who can do it for me), I mentally check off that part of it. By mentally setting it aside, the weight of the challenge lessens. I only really have to evaluate the difficulty of the unknown, of what I haven’t done before or don’t have a resource to do it. Usually about 75% or more is already a controllable and managable known item, so really it’s only the balance of the issue that needs to be investigated or resolved.
Secondly, I develop the habit of always returning to my decision. Not to reevaluate it, or question its validity, but rather to commit to it, again and again. Declaring your faith in yourself, in your abilities, and in your decision is valuable. It gives you and your ideas energy.
To declare my faith, I take some deep breaths and I say that I embrace and respect my decision. I claim my devotion to seeing my decision manifest. I reiterate that I stand willing and ready to be shown how my decision can come to be. I restate that I believe this can be. I use my spirituality here too, but you don’t necessarily have to do that if it’s not what you believe. It takes faith in yourself first and foremost but any help you can receive is good to get if it helps you.
Faith is the evidence of things not seen. It can get tricky when you have to take action before you have the evidence or proof that it will work. And, faith won’t necessarily make it all work out how you think it will. But, it’s the engine of change. It’s the start button for new stuff. And, it helps reinforce your determination of action. So, start with faith in your decisions, have determination in your actions, and I have no doubt that it will work for you. Chime in here with any experiences where your faith and determination has helped you in your business. It always helps to hear how others do it.
Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman
