Creating in Confidence

There’s a vision that I have for myself. It is so clear and vibrant in my mind and in my heart. I get these beautiful winks from the Universe that I’m on the right track, engaged in the right relationships and connections, and striving for the right progress. I get this fuzzy feeling on the inside that makes me feel seen, validated, and assured. I get the biggest grin on my face because it helps to color my vision in ways that I couldn’t before. I feel lit up and aligned. I’ve been taking a path that may feel unconventional and confusing to others and it’s something that I cannot always put into words, but when I get those winks, I’m being encouraged that this path is truly customized for me, my energy, my goals and my pace.

So much of this vision was born from my heart and my gut during a time when I felt the most defeated and disconnected from myself. It was at a time when I was finally recognizing that my old, rigid ways of being would only keep me from what I truly desire in life, the authentic truth of my vision. Part of that vision is that I feel called to do important work that involves my contribution to the healing and well-being of this world and to be an embodied example of all I want others to embrace and prosper from as well. And to do this in a way that truly speaks to the needs of my soul: peacefully, easefully, intuitively, and with love as my guide and abundance as the lens. I find myself here seeing this big picture for myself and not knowing how to get there while actively resisting any pull to “do” for the sake of doing and produce or create from a place of comparison. It’s not easy to know there’s work to do and feel less enlightened on what that work looks like.

But here’s what I know for sure. Whatever I do, no matter what, has to be felt in a certain way for me to not only make progress but to align with who I know myself to be at my core. To align with my highest self, the one who stands proudly in my big picture. These four simple steps always seem to bring me back to what really matters.

1. Start with the vision. I, personally, have to see it with my mind’s eye first. Vividly. I have to feel the picture I’m seeing and know its foundation better than anyone. And I have to do it for me. See it for me. Tap into what I need to feel in that vision. It’s more than who or what is present. It’s about seeing myself and feeling my way through the painting of that image. How do I feel about myself? How does my day-to-day feel? How do people feel about me, my work, my contributions? When I can tap into that source of feeling, it’s easier to know what feels aligned as different situations arise.
2. Follow gut instinct. I may not always listen, but I always know what feels right to me and what doesn’t. Sometimes we discredit those nudges because we don’t have “proof” or evidence as to why we feel certain things. So, we spend a lot of time looking for reasons instead of trusting ourselves. But I’m learning that I don’t need to step into a boxing ring and go 12 rounds to know that I don’t want to fight at all. I’m learning to accept that some things don’t feel right for me simply because they aren’t for me. Period.
3. Make it easy and simple. Asking myself how I can get it done without difficulty and complication (for me at least) is a MAJOR KEY. We sometimes believe that complexity is synonymous with better. More worthy. Valuable. And the reality is… that just isn’t necessarily true. We wouldn’t have sayings like ‘less is more’ if it were. And what I’ve learned (and finally accepted) about myself is that when it’s complex, it doesn’t get done at all. No matter what it is and could mean for my future. Complication triggers a freeze response in me and a fear of not doing it perfectly. NOT HELPFUL. But when I make it easy and simple, I find that I’m taking steps. And taking steps equals progress every time.
4. Let people in on the messy process. I’m learning to embrace building community with trusted, inspiring people who care about me and anything that means a lot to me. Perfectionism seduces you into my keeping things to yourself under the guise that you are protecting yourself from the ridicule of your inner thoughts and plans. But perfectionism is lonely. And it’s really good at convincing me that I am going to be misunderstood, which can be scary when sharing something that is held close to the vest. But this is where “trusted” and “inspiring” comes in. Especially when we’re talking about people who care about us. Sometimes, the way out of the confusion and roadblocks we face, especially when we’re creating, is to lean on the people who know us best. To lean on the people who can look at what we’re telling them from an outside perspective and provide clarity and insight in ways that we may have a blind spot on. Who are the people you value, look up to, and trust? It’s through community that the seeds we plant from the heart can truly take root and grow into something that benefits everyone.

We started this thing thinking about creation. The act of making something new and likely exploring an unchartered path to get there, then adding in the struggle of creating when the path forward just isn’t clear. The reality, however, is that it goes back to being rooted. To feeling rooted- the roots being your soul, intuition, vision, learned lessons, and community. To know and embrace those roots so well that in a time of expansion and growth (like creation), we are stable. Grounded. And we have a solid foundation to dig into, to feel into, as we continue reaching upwards and outwards. I encourage you to use these steps when a way forward isn’t obvious. Get back to your vision and what you feel to be true. Follow that inner knowing. Make your to-do items radically easy and simple. And let people in. You aren’t alone, and the world needs your contribution.