Resistance Comes In All Different Flavors 🍨🍬 🍪
And like those Harry Potter universe "Every Flavor Beans", some of them suck
Last week, I announced that I was doing a thing I’d been dreaming, planning, wistfully wishing, and beginning to feel hopeless that I would ever actually do.
I started writing a free two-week email series called, “They’re Not Just Dogs,” because I adore my dogs, I happily devote most of my non-work related energy to them, and also just to see if I could do it. Ten emails. How hard could it be, right? I wrote six emails in two days. 🎉
Then one more this past weekend. Just three more to go!
…………..
…………..
Forced out #8 the other day, with much twisting, bending, and pressing, like it was the last bit of toothpaste in the tube, and I was already late for work.
Two more.
And… 🚧 🚧 🚧
Resistance.
Not the trail-blazing, independent thinking, all guts no glory, “stick it to the man” kind of resistance.
No, this was deer in the headlights, “holy avocados, what do I think I’m doing?” resistance.
Ugh. Gross.
Fortunately, I have tools!!! 🛠️ 🧰 ⚒️
And a support system! 👯 👯 👯
At the beginning of this year, I started working with Andee Scarantino, my mindset coach who spent the next six months lovingly holding space with me to work through so much muck while also kicking my ass. Andee taught me, among other things, how everyone runs into this type of resistance — and it often happens just before completing a project. Some people have blown up their entire lives to avoid finishing something.
It sounds crazy and it’s true. It’s not logical and it’s still something we do. Both. And.
At least I know I’m in good company. 😜
As I stare down these last two emails of the series, I’m returning to the notes Andee and I exchanged and the resources she shared with me. All of them are reminders that I have everything I need, right here, right now, including one of my favorites: the micro-step.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. That’s obviously an elephant practicing synchronized water spraying in preparation for the next summer Olympics so what does that have to do with micro-steps??
As talented as this elephant is, it reminds me of the cliche, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
If you’re an overthinker like me, you probably think, “Okay, but where do I start? Is one part of the elephant better than another? Should I start with the ear? A leg? Which one? I’m a beginner at this whole elephant-eating thing. Do I really have enough knowledge to eat an elephant? Is there an elephant-eating certification or online course I can take? Who am I to think I could be an elephant-eater?? I’m not even sure elephant-eating is my passion!!”
Wow. That’s a lot. No wonder you’re overwhelmed.
Also, you’re missing the point.
It doesn’t matter what part you start with. Pick one bite and take it.
Then the next. Then the next.
Yes, there’s plenty to be said for planning and researching and such. Eventually, though, you have to do one thing you can do right now.
If you can’t do it right now, break it down into smaller steps, one of which you can do right now.
I’d also like to recommend and advocate for a healthy dose of not giving a fuck letting go of attachment to the outcome of the thing.
I know that’s really hard, especially when you want to remake your entire life and you’re certain all of that hinges on what type of font you use on your website.
Please, don’t take the bait.
Accept that you’re going to screw up. Accept it will be imperfect. Accept you don’t know everything right now. Applaud that what you create will exist out in the world.
Authority comes from experience. If you want to be an authority, go get the experience.
This is the way.
(I mean, I’m pretty sure there are probably other ways, too, but I’m a Mandalorian fan so maybe cut me a little slack? Or not. It’s fine, either way. 💕 💕 💕)
You have no idea how timely this newsletter is (so I'll tell you) - it was bang on timing. Such a fantastic email - so good I saved it and printed it. Keep going, you're doing it and you're doing it WELL. 👏💻💥💖
Ohhhh the RESISTANCE!!! But what you have now, as evidence here, is the knowing that it’s just resistance- not the truth. Everyone gets it, but as we blast through it, we take our power back.
BY THE WAY- everyone should subscribe to your emails because they’re fantastic!!! ✨❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 CC: @everyone
Thanks for the shoutout, my friend. 🤗