Tough (Question) Tuesday: How are you being too hard on yourself?
“What’s important in life is not the triumph but the struggle,” a print by green chair press found via design is mine.
Get in your head that one big, fat, crazy, scary goal that you’ve been working towards. Y’know, the one that seems super huge and that you can’t quite pin down. Think of the reasons it ain’t working.
Now ask yourself:
How are you being too hard on yourself?
Join me in the comments section to explore the trash talking.
You can read all of the Tough (Question) Tuesdays here.
Tags: Tough (Question) Tuesday
April 28th, 2009 at 5:12 am
I hafta admit, this question came out of a conversation I was having with Luke about how I'm gonna go about being a full-time coach. "I gotta be more disciplined!", I trash talked to myself. Thankfully Luke was sitting next to me while the trash talking with going on, and responded, "Babe, you are one of the most disciplined people I know. You don't need more discipline – you need more focus. There's a difference."
There must be a reason that Focus is my word this year. I'm gonna try to, uh, focus on Focus and block out the rest of the noise.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:28 am
For sure I have to work on this too…
I put a lot of pressure on me. Big objectives. Scary ones. With a lot of will and work and focus, I tend to reach them BUT by the time I've climbed the mountain, I feel so tired that I go down very very quickly. Then, I take some rest and here we go again with even more difficult goal…
The point is when you listen to you, when you go step by step, little by little, well, you do it before you even realize it.
It's easier said than done, and even if I actually did it on some point, I have to work on myself to do it on any point !
You see what I mean ?
April 28th, 2009 at 11:08 am
LOL – yes I do, Julie! But I think you said it yourself, "by the time I’ve climbed the mountain, I feel so tired that I go down very very quickly." What can you do to not be so tired by the end? How can you enjoy the journey?
April 28th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
WOW–you just helped me make a VERY important connection, Michelle! I was thinking about "Focus" in terms of business, my calendar, etc…but I TOTALLY FORGOT to apply it to my biggest personal goal! Zoinks!
And instead of trash talking, I'm just going to say here that I'll bet this connection is happening at exactly the right time for all the right reasons.
THANK YOU!
April 28th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
My big goal (other than to become a coach) has always been to write. In past versions of myself I have written for a TV Show/website and have had a short story published. But, every time I get ready to write again I am way to hard on myself. I get started and write something down, then I read it, and start to negative talk until I give up and never show it to anyone.
"This isn't different enough to ever be successful"
"People are going to think this is stupid"
"Wow, could I have written that any crappier?"
"If I continue along this past famous, long dead writers are going to rise from the grave and go zombie on my ass"
Well, you can see how it progresses….
To combat this I have started my blog, and, let me tell you, right after I hit post I quickly run around my house and lock the doors (zombies can't open doors right?) and quickly put a wreath of garlic around my neck (not for the zombies….duh….I have heard Will Shakespeare is actually a vampire)
Hopefully the blog will help me to build up the confidence to write more and more and eventually get to where I want to be.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:05 am
Laura – I'm so glad I was able to help you like you helped me this week!
Jeremie – Keep it up, Jeremie (maybe not the garlic so much, but hey – whatever gets you through)! Your blog is great & I know that you'll be a "writer" in no time. Just focus on the baby steps & I know you'll find your way through. And not to pimp my own writing, but I went through all my posts yesterday (I'm cleaning house & recategorizing) & "Die Vampire Die" relates to exactly what you're talking about. AND features vampires, oddly enough. You can read it here: http://is.gd/vmdd
April 29th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Thanks for the "Die, Vampire, Die" link, it was perfect.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:18 am
So glad, Jeremie. I think anyone that's an artist in one way or another has been there, done that! Not sure if it's a comfort but you are definitely not alone.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Hi Michelle:
I just love reading your stuff!
I also am very disciplined but lack focus sometimes. I try to write things down on paper so they don't escape me yet aren't running rampant in my mind!
Today, because I knew it was so important I actually took an hour out and played fetch in the lake with my dog while I just thought and captured ideas into my IDEA journal. I normally put off the time for myself and I believe that feeds into my lack of focus!
Keep up the good stuff you share with all of us!
Another cool Michelle!
April 30th, 2009 at 4:22 am
Thanks, Michelle! And your signature is redundant – ALL Michelle's are cool
Time for yourself is SO important (I'm learning that lesson too!). I love how to incorporated one of your tasks (writing down your ideas / dumping your brain) and made it a more joyful experience by playing fetch with your dog. I'm someone who always wants to get to the finish line yesterday, and am working on enjoying the journey to the finish line more than I usually do. It seems like you're already doing this, so Mazel Tov!