The notion that I need to make some drastic changes is something that’s pressed me for the last several months, but even more in the last few days.
Now, if you heard my podcast on MAKING ROOM FOR GROWTH, you already know I’m ready to cut back, unlearn, say no to desperate moves, and be ME!
And I’ve done that — especially the cutting back part. I’ve changed my schedule around a lot. My life, right now, is the epitome of agile development.
Still, all of the changes, on top of the NEED for more, left me questioning myself. Like DANG, you just made all these changes, and now you NEED to do it again?
Then my inner-critic started talking.
Maybe you’re NOT ready.
Maybe you’re NOT capable.
Maybe you’re NOT the person for the job.
I felt what it means to feel like an imposter.
But then I checked myself. Like, NO MAM — you do a lot. Tons.
More than the average person. You do the work of a team.
I encouraged myself like I’d encourage a friend.
Then I brought what I was feeling and thinking to my hubs (Dante). And before he could respond, I blurted out the wildest thing.
It was something I’d thought about it a few times — BUT NEVER seriously enough to (1) speak out loud, (2) write it down, OR (3) tell anyone.
Catch this.
As soon as I said everything I’d been thinking aloud, I felt peace. No lie.
It’s amazing how saying what you feel can bring you so much peace.
The Smoking Prophet
My worries over direction lifted. I felt good about things and had this confidence that it will work.
Before you ask how I figured out what to do that quickly, let me be straight up. I don’t have the answer yet. But I do have an answer on what to do next — and that gives me peace.
Which brings me to my first point — when you don’t know what to do, you DON’T NEED TO RUSH the answer.
Not knowing what to do is scary. I know this. Here’s what I mean.
I wouldn’t say I like surprises. My hubs would say I hate them. Dante can barely surprise me with anything because I’m always asking and wanting to know what’s next. It’s a good thing, but in moments where I need to know what to do when I don’t know what to do — it is not. It makes me anxious.
How does it make you feel when you don’t know what to do? Or when you’re worried about making the wrong choice?
Probably stressed, anxious, and worried too?
Emotions that ARE natural — BUT cloud our judgment and set the stage for bad choices.
So don’t rush. You have time. Apply what you know and trust that answers will come as you apply what you know.
WATCH VLOG ANSWERS COME WITH APPLICATION
The second thing to do when you don’t know what to do is to let your more meaningful things guide you!
Your more meaningful things are things that lead you deeper into your life’s calling and the future you want. They can include restorative practices that refresh your soul or steps towards your goals.
So what are your more meaningful things? What matters to you? What do you want in the next six months, twelve months, three years?
Notice I didn’t say, what do you want next week? Or what do you want next month? I did that for a reason.
It’s because your long-term goals should make your more meaningful things more obvious to you — than your short-term goals. Or little things you want to check off your to-do list, BECAUSE they make you feel good!
Little moments of satisfaction are great, AND yes, what you do daily matters. BUT EVEN MORE, ARE THE ACTIONS YOU TAKE TOWARDS YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS!
This is why you’ve got to dig deeper into what matters — especially when you don’t know what to do.
So look at your long-term goals (or set some) and focus on your more meaningful things. They are calling you and can guide you when you feel uncertain.
And my NEXT and LAST point — dare to be disruptive.
Daring to be disruptive means that people will often misunderstand you, BUT it also means the ‘heat’ is likely because you stay true to you and your MORE MEANINGFUL things.
Daring to be disruptive means that you won’t always do things you know how to do or learn traditionally. BUT it also means you’ll pioneer new models and new methods for others.
Having the courage to be disruptive means that you don’t mind looking silly.
Because sometimes you’ll have to say yeah, the experts say to do this ONE THING — BUT I have a strong feeling that if I do something different, it will WORK OUT FOR ME!
Do you think you could do this? Could you dare to be disruptive and change the world around you?
I think you can. Because I’m doing it AND I never thought I could.
Which brings me to this. You probably want to know what my decision is, and I’m going to tell you.
I’ve decided to take a BIG BREAK from social media. I am leaving indefinitely. And it’s because more meaningful things are calling and I’m brave enough to pursue them.
Do I know how I’m going to do this? Not yet, but I HAVE PEACE, and that’s what I need.
I don’t need ALL the answers yet, because the answers come with application.
I don’t need to RUSH because God’s with me.
And it doesn’t need to make sense because NOT everything disruptive makes sense immediately.
Ask Noah. He built a boat to prepare for a flood when people had never seen rain.
That makes me smile.
Okay, but back to this.
Don’t worry. We can stay in touch. Offline.
Through text messages, emails, my blog, podcast, and in my private group.
Wow. I’m doing this! I’m excited about this next adventure, and I hope you are too.
And hey — even if you still don’t fully know what to do, remember what we’ve talked about:
Don’t rush your decision.
Let your more meaningful things guide you.
Be brave enough to be disruptive.
DANTE + LOLA
Dante is a money magnet and the king of optimization. He loves creating plans that cut losses, increase profits, and build cash.
Lola is a genius at creating digital content and OCD about organization. Her gift is making things simple and organizing creative projects.
Got questions? Contact us!
dante@thesmokingprophet.com
lola@thesmokingprophet.com
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