I love the summer season. It brings play, work and fun into a different space for me.
Most of all, summer is a reminder to create, design, and intentionally write the endings to the experiences and stories of my life.
What about you?
Do you have stories you tell yourself that limit your opportunities?
For years I had many ‘stories’ that created interesting limitations. One in particular came not from previous work experience, but rather from a sailing experience.
In my youth, I learned to sail with my dad and family. I enjoyed sailing and decided to buy a sailboat. This is where my limiting story began.
It took me years to realize how one event created so many far-reaching limitations for me. Later I was offered an invitation to ‘open my sails’ and I immediately said, “NO.” Not, “No thank you” or “Let me have the details” — replies that would have allowed me to assess the opportunity and risk. My reply was just “NO!” It was a time when the winds of change were strong. In an instant, I felt the winds on my face and decided the invitation was too risky. Why? On that day, I was not sure. It was later, while talking with my coach that I sorted out the reason.
The simple answer? A story from the past that instantly wrote an ending to this invitation. An ending that felt too risky.
Do you do this with career opportunities?
What story do you tell yourself that limits your opportunities?
Join me next week for more about my sailing story . . .
Oh, I think you’re spot on, Cindy. In the career world, for example, so many people are unhappy with their current job, but are too afraid to make a change. Sometimes it’s because the idea of change is scary, and other times they’ve convinced themselves they won’t be able to handle their dream job. I’m curious to hear more about the sailing story…did you buy the boat?
Lori – I agree fear often comes from the thoughts we allow to create and convince us of things that are not facts at all. Looking forward to sharing the story with you. The short answer is yes!
Thanks for sharing this story Cindy! I think that many of us have self limiting stories. I’d be interested in hearing about how you conquer them! This is some thing I’m working on my self. 🙂 Cheers to you!
I think we all have those stories. For me, it was the need to feel safe as a child in the midst of war. The experience has colored my view of the world for a long time. The trick is to recognize that there is a story in there somewhere and figure out how to work through it.
Lilia, Love your knowledge of your need. I agree we all have those stories and you are dead when we recognize there is a story we can look at the facts and the experiences we create beyond the facts. That I have found is key to sorting out the blind spots in the facts if any and then how to re-frame the story with facts if you wish to do so.
Wow. Such an important topic you’re tackling. It’s crazy pants how some old experiences follow us through life… Limit us and hold us back for experiencing full joy and potential.
Oh, that immediate NO! I know that one. For me, it’s more internal than saying “No” or “Let me think on it” to outside opportunities. But the cause is still the same. Fear. Plain and simple. Great post. Thank you.
Nancy, delighted for you that you know the cause for you. Like Kelly’s WOW – for me and others the story I wrote from my experience was not one of fact and did limit many opportunities. Have an amazing day!