“Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘who am I to be so brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are we not to be?
Marianne Williamson
You see a new opportunity for yourself. It’s a natural. Now you must make the call. Nothing happens without it.
But, you are hesitating.
The first thought that comes to mind is that you are afraid of rejection. It is not a pleasant thought. Fear of failure is something with which we are very familiar. We’ve failed before. People have turned us down.
But, this is a different time and a different call to a different person. Why would we prejudge the situation based on our prior experience?
We do. People tell us it is because we have low self esteem. Something we have been working on to improve. But, it prevails.
Someone once told me that if you were told you were very talented and worthy, we would say to ourselves –“They don’t really know me.”
But if the same person said we were a complete failure and incapable of great achievements, we would then say to ourselves – “ “They got that right. They have my number.” This is all about self talk. We have found the enemy and it is ourselves.
So, how do we get up the courage to make that call, send that email, write that letter, mail the resume?
Here are the steps.
1. Just begin. Do your research. Make the call just to find out the exact person you might be contacting and their correct title and contact information.
Don’t get scared. You don’t have to do anything yet.
2. Get your materials together. Anything you have that will show that you qualify for the position or assignment.
Again, not pushing you. This is just an exercise.
3. Write your cover letter.
We are just practicing here. No pressure. We are not doing anything yet. Maybe you will do it later. Perhaps, you are not quite ready.
4. Now you have your entire arsenal together. Make sure it is perfect. Especially the letter. Make sure it sells benefits to the receiver.
5. Put the whole project aside. Put it in a manila folder for the future.
Now, some soul searching – What do I have to gain by not following through?
First of all, you can tell yourself that of course you could get that job. It’s a slam dunk. They would be crazy not to answer in a positive fashion. You would gain never really knowing.
Next, you can think there is something much better for you out there. You can wait for the absolutely perfect opportunity. This one might not be it. After all, isn’t that ideal opportunity supposed to find You? Isn’t that what your have heard from the Law of Attraction people?
Then there are the things that are on your agenda right now. There is a big occasion in the family coming up. You might be moving. This is probably not the right time for a change. It is probably better if you waited for a while.
The next question, obviously, is what do you have to gain by going for the gold now?
1. They may say yes.
2. If they do, you can see what the terms of their offer are. It could not be for you after all. But now you know for sure someone is interested.
3. You may not have to decide immediately. You will have some time to think it over.
4. And, if they say no – you will be able to cross that one off the list instead of tormenting yourself that you have not gone after it.
5. The practice of being brave and going after something will give you confidence in the future.
6. You now have a complete package ready to go for the next opportunity.
The last question is – are you willing to take the chance of finding out?
Hold your nose. Jump into the deep water. You know how to swim.
JUST DO IT!
The worst thing that can happen is they will turn you down. You can handle that. Next?
Could it be that what holds you back is that you might succeed?
Think about it.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
I love it – love it – love it — I feel you wrote it just for me today ….I guess we all feel inadequate some days – but not today. I’m going to print it and keep it right on my desk …. Thank you so much. You need a TV show again!!! That’s where I first saw you.
I love the baby step process. NO pressure, no expectations. Just take one small step at a time, The step that is in front of you right now. I love it when we think we can’t even take one small step because of what we are expecting or anticipating the final result to be… and of course we can never know what the result might be!
Right on target, as usual Corinne!
This reminds me of my initial hestitation that I felt when I was first given the opportunity to do a video in connection with a contest that you already know I’m involved in.
Then one day I just said to myself JUST DO IT.
And while the contest is still going on (today is the last day), I squeezed my nose and plunged right into it. Then I did the next best thing and contacted as many people as I could, taking the power of ASKING to the next level to help me win by viewing it and then telling others about it.
The results have been nothing short of a miracle. I posted it on YouTube only 6 days ago and it’s garnered over 2,000 views already! I still have some catching up to do with my competitors but this echoes what you said.
If you don’t do it, you won’t know. Thanks for the excellent article.
Thanks Corinne,
I like your no pressure approach. It is also worth finding out if there are supports that you can access and what supports you may want.
Thanks for the post.
Hi Corrine,
Marianne’s quote says it all – I think there is a greater fear of success than there is of failure in most of us! Thanks for you action steps to move through that fear, you’re spot on.
Hi Corrine,
The quote above gives me the paradigm shift. How true is that.
I used to have a very low self-esteem and thankfully that it’s totally different now. Thanks to the film “The Secret”.
Ugh! Am I the only one who thinks “The Secret” is a bunch of crap?
No Sandi you are not the only one – same day different whatever —- However, I wish I had thought of it – Think of the money they made. Only way out is what I believe Einstein said – 10% inspiration 90% perspiation – so get out and WORK …the real four-letter word.
You are not alone, Sandi.
Different people have different perspective.
Ignoring the fact does not change the fact.
Dear Sandi, Peg and Raymond -
I am a fan of a blog http://jonathanfields.com/.
I am exerpting part of Jonathan’s article on “The Secret” and why it might work other than you are accessing the Power of the Universe.
“And, the more you believe, the more likely you are to act…
Not just big, life-altering actions, though. When you believe something, even marginally, you begin to do a thousand little things differently. You talk to people you’d normally avoid. You ask questions you’d have been to shy to ask. You help people you’d normally ignore. You dress a little better. You interact with more confidence. You carry yourself differently.
You invest time, energy, hours and funds in yourself and others without really noticing how differently you are presenting yourself to the world. To those who come in contact with you, you are different.”
A whole different slant on it!
Dear Grace, Evan, Michelle and Stephen -
The little steps, as you mentioned, lead us to the courage to act. Sometimes life feels overwhelming.
After you do the initial work, it doesn’t seem as hard.
Then, as Stephen said, you JUST DO IT! Stephen is an unusual example of this, having overcome so many obstacles in his life. He was born deaf and yet is a motivational speaker, was an award winning stockbroker, a pilot and an inspirational blogger.
His blog http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com is a constant inspiration to me. It is worth your investigating as you surf the web!
Hi Corrine,
Thanks for sharing the excerpt.
Dear JoLynn -
Marianne Williamson is the real deal. I have had many contacts with her over the years. She was on my TV show several times – even when it was small, before it went national. She gave me a great interview and her full attention as though I was Oprah!
Hey guys!
Thanks for the plug Corinne – I appreciate it. Come one, come all! Right? Isn’t that how they say it?
Once agaibn, great article here. I love your writing style. No holds barred (isn’t that how you say it? I think I have all my cliches wrong. LOL)
Hi Corinne…
Very nice post. I like the thinking involved. Mostly what you describe is my experience.
Re: The Secret. One of my favorite spiritual “dudes” had this to say about the Secret (I’m paraphrasing): the dirty little secret about The Secret is, that after you’ve manifested the perfect job, the house, the perfect woman (or man) and the money, at the end of the day, none of that stuff will make you happy. All that stuff makes life a little easier, but that’s about it.
Yup.
Corinne, personally I think you wrote this article because I needed to be reminded of the Marianne Williamson quote. I love it. It is so true. Right now my life is on fast forward speed, it seems. A wonderful opportunity was dropped in my lap this week that I won’t turn down even though there is a part of me resisting the challenge. That frightened part of me is afraid that I might become, no, be a powerful being. Events have been leading up to this opportunity for the past five years. It is something that I could never have imagined happening. I am excited and frightened and still moving forward. Thanks for the reminder.
Yet another powerful article Corrine.
I agree there is ho perfect time. Opportunity never seems to present itself at a convenient time. There are usually any number of important and distracting things going on in your life. Using that as a reason not to act is the greatest mistake you will ever make.
Change and growth doesn’t just happen. It is made and it is made by actions.
I do like your easy step method though. Usually the message of change is delivered with a bulldozer and is very offputting to those who are fearful of it.
C’mon. Cmon Patricia – TELL US! We won’t tell anyone!
(Can’t wait to hear the good news. Be sure to lset us know)
The suspense – the suspense!
Yes, I echo Corinne’s chanting, Tell us, tell us! We won’t tell!
Whatever it is, I hope it’s a delicious trip for you, leading you into unxpected but joyful opportunities.
We’re rooting for you Patricia.
I don’t wanna be left out. I want to know it too.
Corinne, Stephen and everybody else who may be interested. A healer friend of mine came to me at church on Sunday and said that she has been guided to expand her practice in a new way to help women in the Hot Springs, AR area and that she feels that she wants to teach me how to do what she does. She wants to pass on her knowledge to someone else who is more settled in Hot Springs than she is. She and her husband who died about a year ago traveled the world doing Releasing Work. If you want to see what that entails, their website is at http://www.lindwallreleasing.org . I can’t adequately explain the healing process that they did. Yolanda is not the clairvoyant that her husband Isa is. Their work is called Freedom Through Releasing and they have done this work in many, many countries of the world and have trained other people to do it. I was not initially drawn to Isa’s work. I have felt a connection to Yolanda. Her way of working is different and something that I am more comfortable with.
On Sunday when Yolanda offered this opportunity to me, I felt myself hold my breath, I was a little frightened and a lot excited. A shiver went through me as she said it. That was my clue that it was right and this is my next direction to travel in. I told Yolanda that I was told 5 years ago to wait that I was supposed to be doing healing work of some kind with another woman. I believe that was the reason for the shiver. It is happening. I am not a patient person and tried to push another friend into that position. She rebelled and retreated. I waited. Not knowing for 5 years which direction I was going in has been trying. Patience is not my long suit at all.
Now that I have said yes, I have to learn what Yolanda does. I have seen her in action twice recently and it is similiar to past life regressions which I have read about and feel confident that I can learn to do.
Wish me well and I will keep everybody updated on future events as they unfold on my blog. You know me. If it happens in my life then I write about it. I think I was afraid to say anything because I might have just dreamed it but it is happening for real. Thanks for the support everyone.
Patricia
Dear Patricia -
Well you have everyone’s blessing!
But, I think what you are missing is that you have been a healer all along. This is just a different aspect.
I have a feeling you will add to what Yolanda already does with your own abilities and talent.
Healers are born – not made.
We will be looking forward to your new venture with great anticipation and sending you love.
Thanks for breaking the news here. I am honored.
Love,
Corinne
Dear Tom -
If you will notice under the name of my blog there is a subsentence that reads -
The house, portfolio, Mercedes and the 2.5 kids have been attained – and the question being asked now is, “IS THAT ALL THERE IS?”
So, obviously, I agree with your friend.
Could not sleep last night so I read your entire blog and looked at the videos.
- and subscribed to it. Will be following your excellent articles closely. You have much to contribute.
When I first started reading your latest article about where was Missouri, I remembered a map that was published a few years ago.
It was called “A New Yorker’s map of the United States.”
The map showed New York connected to Chicago to Miami to Los Angeles and Texas. Nothing else.
As a former New Yorker transplanted to Chicago, I can relate to that!
Bu the end of the article, I was thinking of a book called,
“Wherever You Go, There You Are.”
Hope you are enjoying the local football games.
Keep coming back here!
Dear Karen – Karooch -
What I love about you is that you are interested in EVERYTHING!
Your scrapbooking fascinates me. I am going to do it when I get old – which is just about now.
Thank for your always generous support!
Please shed some light on the Karen – Karooch name. Where did that come from? What do you like to be called?
Patricia:
How very exciting about your new path! That is most awesome. I can definitely relate to the waiting and how being patient is not exactly my strong suit.
But like you and a few other people I’ve connected with in this blogging world, the lid is about to pop open for us. There’s about to be an explosion of growth very soon and we best buckle up. It’s going to be one hellva ride. I feel it.
So let’s strap ourselves in and get ready. It’s here and about to knock on our door. Whoooooo.
Corinne and Stephen, thanks for your words of support. I agree with Stephen that things are going to start moving fast.
Hey Corinne,
Now you know why I’ve been checking out your blog. It’s because you ask “Is that all there is?” If you’re subheading was “And how to get more goodies in life,” well, I may not stick around. Don’t get me wrong, at a certain level, we do seem to have use for some stuff to make it in life. Having good things in life does make life easier. But it is only the very beginning of the story. As with all things, people often go too far with things. The Secret serves its purpose, but beyond that, your question is the one that matters. “Is that all there is?”
Well, Tom – I am glad you are checking out my blog because I honor your work and your approval!
Goodies do not make us happy. They make us comfortable. That is also good stuff! But there is much more to happiness and contentment.
Gratitude is the beginning.
Please stay in touch, Tom. I will.