Life is a Process. Trust it!
Take a step, make a move, and regain faith in the process of Life
Life is a process that we must trust in order to live it the way it was meant to be experienced. But trust can be hard.
Iterate and Build Faith in the Process
I don’t consider myself to be a creative person when it comes to graphic art and design. As an entrepreneur, this can create some anxiety for me. I have to convey my offers and brand in images, yet I don’t have the skills to create these images on my own. This means I must rely on others with those skills to bring book covers, logos, and illustrations for my offerings to reality.
Right before I hire a designer, I’m nervous and hesitant. I find the process frustrating for several reasons. First, I know what is inside my offer or who I am as a brand and can explain it in words, but I usually can’t convey it or even envision it in graphic format. But when I’m faced with a deadline, I bite the bullet and hire a designer who I think can do the job. I describe what I want to see and what I’m trying to accomplish in words and add a couple of stock images that give a loose idea of it. Then I submit my request.
A couple of days later, I receive the first design attempt back. Inevitably, it’s nothing like what I expected, even though I didn’t know what I wanted to see. I get annoyed, thinking, why can’t they understand what I described and design it the way I want it (even though I wasn’t clear on what I wanted). They have the graphic design skills but aren’t able to translate my vague description into my desired design. So frustrating!
Then, I take a deep breath and acknowledge the fact that I didn’t give them as much as I thought I had to go on. I recognize that the designer is not very close to my brand or services.
And then, with a clearer head, I look at what they designed for me. In looking at the unsuitable graphic, I begin to get clearer on what I want to see in my image. A graphical concept of my vision starts to emerge as I pick apart what I don’t like in this initial pass.
From there, I go back to the drawing board and find stock images that better represent what I want to see. I mock up a rough design using PowerPoint and I ask for a revision.
This process continues, back and forth for several days.
Gradually my concept, that was as clear as mud to both the designer and me when we started, begins to take shape. And as it does, I become more confident that I will get a design that will be suitable for my purpose. I become more confident in the designer’s ability and creativity. My frustration melts, and I feel excited about what we are creating instead of frustrated.
In the end, nine times out of ten, I’m satisfied with the final design and walk away with a finished product that I can feel good about using to represent my offer and brand.
Getting Results in Life Follows a Similar Course
Life is much like this. We have a desire that we wish to pursue and fulfill. Often the goal is vague, or the requirements of what we want aren’t at all clear to us. We know we want or need something, but to describe it in exact terms seems impossible. Anxiety ensues. Unsure of ourselves and what steps are required, we get stuck and procrastinate. We know we want something in our hearts and minds, but precisely what is cloudy. We come to an impasse, fret, and do nothing.
The problem with this is that if we don’t take the first step, our idea remains vague. We can’t get a more clear vision of what we want or need or how to get it. We continue to worry and stay stuck in inaction.
The key is to take a step. Even if the step you take is researching to gain additional information, you can gain clarity in that.
But beware of the rut of research. It is not a substitute for moving forward toward your goal. Life requires taking action beyond gathering facts.
In 2016, my dream of moving to France was a foggy vision in my heart and mind. I was afraid even to do research to find out what would be required to pull something like that off. I feared that I would find out that I was not up for the task. So I remained stuck in wishing and hoping for a new life in France, but taking no action.
Then my work situation changed, making me very uncomfortable. I knew I needed a change, but also knew that going to another company continuing to manage projects was not what I needed in my life at that point. I knew I needed to figure this France dream out.
So I took the first move and hired a coach to help me get unstuck and face my fears. In so doing, I was forced to research, and I got clearer on my goal. With this information, I was able to take another step. Little by little, I began to understand the requirements and the process. As I took each step, clarity turned doubt into excitement.
I took the steps, uncertain of where they would lead. I had setbacks and frustrations in the process, and doubt resurfaced. But, I trusted in my vision and desire and continued taking steps. I did the work. And a year and a half later I made my move to France. It has been an incredible adventure!
Now I’m living that once hazy dream that had me so paralyzed with fear that I didn’t even dare to research what it would take. Taking that first step to get help and hire a coach brought me to a different vantage point where I could see anew and then move on from there with more clarity. I iterated my vision, and my progress and ever-increasing clarity emboldened me.
Now I’ve got new dreams that aren’t in clear focus yet, but I trust the process and have taken the first several steps to move out of the mist of confusion and ignorance and into the light of faith and understanding.
Get Unstuck and Achieve Your Goals
Life is a series of actions taken to reach a particular result. The outcome I’m going for in my life is to live it fully, without regrets. Your aim might be different, but whatever it is, it is vital to trust the process and take action!
All too often, however, people get stuck, and the process grinds to a halt. They are left with the age-old question, “Is this all there is to life?” and the fear, unhappiness, and desperation that accompany the idea that maybe there is nothing more to life than the unsatisfying existence they are experiencing.
I can tell you, from experience, that there is more to life than merely going through the motions in a routine and passionless way. I’ve experienced the desperation that comes from living life in this manner, lacking direction, self-confidence, and hope, and feeling afraid. And I’ve worked through all that to take meaningful action so that I can live this dream life I’m experiencing right now.
It feels so good that I want everyone to feel this way.
That is why I launched the Courage Concept free membership site and podcast series, to help you learn to trust yourself and the process of life and get moving again toward your dreams. Click here to access the free resources available to you right now so that you can start trusting yourself, gain faith in the process of life, and live it the way you were meant to experience it, full of meaning and joy!
