How To Take the Pressure Off When Trying Something New

Fear has a funny way of stopping you from attempting something new.Fear can make you feel inadequate, disorganized, and silly. There's no need to attempt something new for fear to creep up. All that's needed is a thought. A thought about:

taking a risk or making a change.

And that's when fear arrives, waiting for you, ready to help you unthink that thought.

It's a real challenge getting past something that's literally invisible but feels so real. Real enough to stop you from adding much needed novelty to your life.

I recently wanted to do something new - something I've never tried before, but have wanted to do for some time now. I will admit, I was nervous to take the first step. The pressure from the outcome of this "new thing" was weighing on me. As if I was about to save millions of little puppies with what I wanted to do.

It's ridiculous the amount of pressure we take on unnecessarily when expressing ourselves creatively.

I wanted to eradicate this pressure, and that's when I had a thought: Why not give new creative outlets a name. A name that doesn't make me nervous or hesitate to start. And there it was. A seven letter word that couldn't intimidate me if it tried. (Unless I put the word Group in front of it, then it would piss me off.)

Project.

Everyone loves projects don't they? Projects don't have to save the world, make tons of money, or be life changing. No one questions why you're doing a project or how long it's going to take.

It's nerve wrecking telling others your hopes and dreams (as if dreams aren't meant to be farfetched). Nonetheless, we still hesitate to share our deepest desires with others in fear that they may sound outlandish or insignificant . Sometimes we hesitate to admit our deepest wants with ourselves. Once we acknowledge our wants we must either go after it or allow it to eat us alive.

I used to put my serious face on when I got ready to work on my goals or talk about them. I assumed for others to take my goals seriously, I must take them seriously, so I must look serious when it comes to my goals. Sounds downright silly.

There's been a message ingrained within us that goals are serious business, there's no room for mistakes and God forbid you take your time.

I'm realizing that approach feels all wrong. I learning to just DO instead of FEEL my way through every scenario in fear I could make a wrong turn.

When you're having fun and doing something you love, do you sit down and size-up what you're doing? Do you explain why this is bringing you joy? Do you plan each moment out? Absolutely not. A singer sings without realizing what she's singing about. A writer writes what he feels. An artist paints what brings her inspiration. In order to release our creativity we must be relaxed, anxiety free, and full of passion. Don't allow fear or pressure to stop you before you dare to begin.

Leave that serious face for when the student loan companies call your phone. Let that fun, creative, and adventurous side into the limelight when working on your craft. For it's only just a project.

                                                       ***What new projects are you doing in your life? I'd love to know. Comment Below. Don't be shy ;-)***

projects

Feel free,

Mel

Are You Creating a Life or Making a Living

Everyone in life wants two things: to be loved and to be successful. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you’ve been through, these two desires are universal. Everyone has aspirations for a life beyond their current reality. When I first started pursuing entrepreneurship it was about the amount of money I could make doing something I love. Over time I’ve realized, it’s not only about making a living, it’s about creating a life.

Creating a life that makes room for what’s important  to you. Developing systems that support you financially, mentally and creatively.

Some people desire the fame and national acknowledgement. I would rather be like an author. The people who care about what I have to offer know me well, but the general public couldn’t spot me in Publix. I want to go to PTA meetings and date night. I want to work Monday through Thursday and be done by 2pm. I want to empower others to find their own way to create freedom in their lives.

After I determined what I wanted and how I wanted to get it, I had to make sure I merged the two from the start.

It’s much more difficult to restructure the foundation when it’s already built. It’s better to have an idea of the core things you want out of life and build everything else around that.

What does your foundation look like?

Are the things you’re doing today helping you create the life you want or only the money you’d like to make?

Here are 4 Ways to Start Creating A Life You Actually Want

1. Determine your values: Once you determine the main areas of your life that are most important, you can then know where to put your energy. When we are able to make a statement with true conviction, true power, we can easily act on it. The mind loves congruency. When what you do is aligned with how you feel and what you believe, it’s much easier to get it done.

2. Be Aware of Life’s Distractions: It’s so easy to get distracted by our everyday responsibilities, multiple interests, and the many different relationships we’re  involved in. When creating a living, what you value should be at the forefront each day. When you remind yourself of what you value at this point in your life, it can flourish. The overall peace and satisfaction from being aligned with your core values will allow you to be your best self in other areas. Never undermine the power of what you truly want by getting easily distracted.

3.  Be Patient With Time: When you’re making a living time is not your friend. You’re in this hustle mode. A word that has been beloved by every person trying to achieve great success. Hustling can have a way of displaying desperation.  The eagerness to be successful can force you to make decisions that aren’t necessarily good for your business but will bring money into your pocket fast. Your back is against the wall and you’re doing whatever is needed to survive. When you’re creating a living, you’re nurturing your craft, you’re trying new things, and your growing. There is no shortcut to mastering your craft, only patience and diligence.

4. What You Do Should Reflect Who You Are

So many of us have been forced to take jobs that do not reflect any aspect of our personality or what we care about. At the end of the day you’re left feeling frustrated,  drained, dissatisfied, and confused about what you’re doing, how you got there, and how to get the hell out. When you’re creating a living the very aspects of life that you care about are intertwined with what you do. The parts of you that bring you to life is how you get your job done each day. What you do adds to your lifestyle and does not take away from it.

Are you creating a life or simply making a living?

Feel Free,

Mel

P.S. I'd love to know how you're creating your life. Comment below :-)

How to Find Freedom in a Job You Hate

Labor Day is not meant to be laborious. I gladly took a day off from anything productive.

How are you supposed to feel free when every morning you walk into work it feels like you've stepped into a cage? How do you gain peace of mind when your manager is down your throat, and the very thought of work makes you anxious? There are days that your job feels like a punishment.

You ask yourself: How did I end up here? What did I do to deserve this? How will I make it out of here? Here's the thing,

you cannot look at your job like a punishment.

Just because your position is less than ideal or looks nothing like your dream job, doesn't mean it sucks. There is opportunity within every challenge.

It is possible to find freedom within a job you hate.

1st thing: See your position as a door you must go through to get to the door you really want. Once you open the door, take a look inside and take advantage of all there is to offer. Then is when the next door will appear.

2nd thing: Do something for yourself first. No one is going to care about you and your dreams more than you do. I get this philosophy from my financial practices. Finances 101: Pay Yourself First. No matter the amount of your check, transfer money into your savings before you pay a single bill. You're paying into your future dreams, your future success, your future happiness. If you take care of your needs before anyone else's, you're able to perform a lot better without the feelings of guilt or regret. You can start your day feeling good about accomplishing something real for yourself.

3rd thing: Ask yourself, what opportunity is in front of me that I'm not taking advantage of? How can you get the most out of your job? Does your company offer free certifications or trainings that will add to your skill set? Do they have networking functions where you can expand your business relationships? Can you develop you punctuality, attitude, social demeanor, public speaking, or typing skills?

There is always room for your personal growth wherever you are.

Stop looking at the job as only a paycheck. Stop acting as if the company owes you something for being there each day. Guess what, all they owe you is the amount you agreed to receive every 2 weeks. Nothing more and nothing less, but that doesn't mean you can't gain much more if you're open to it. Remember take advantage of ALL there is to offer, once you do, that next door will appear.

4th thing: Practice making friends. This is the first day of high school all over again. A few faces you may recognize from college or past jobs, but majority of the people are brand spanking new. Just like you, these people don't want to stay here the rest of their careers. This is a stepping stone to their dreams and goals. And when they are ready to open their new door, they will want to take someone along with them. I can't tell you the amount of opportunities I've gained from relationships cultivated in the midst of the moment. I received a paid internship at Emory University that I was no where near qualified for (on paper) from making friends with one of the guests I served while working at a dessert bar. I hardly ever made good money there, but I didn't leave empty handed. On top of the handy baking skills, I left that job with friendships from various backgrounds and an internship I would've never gotten without the recommendation of a guest.

5th thing: Know that you're doing something meaningful for someone else. The garbage man isn't saving world hunger, but he sure is making life a lot better for a lot of people. A job does not have to be filled with soul gushing meaning in order to be important. What you do does matter a whole lot to someone. Don't overlook this. This gives your position purpose. This gives you power. Don't take advantage of it and don't minimize it.

Lastly (This is really the most important): Do Your Best This is more vital than anything else. When you do your personal best you feel proud of yourself. You don't need the accolades or the acknowledgements, because you know you've given all you got. And more than likely this will get noticed. Each day,

have the best day you can have by being your best version of you.

Why does the cage bird sing? Not because she is asked or expected to but because she is free. She is free to be all she was meant to be. No cage can contain her greatness or her bliss. She will relentlessly shine while others stare and wish. Feel Free, Mel