Has this ever happened to you? You were about to start an important and challenging task, but on the way you got distracted. The next time you thought of it you were too tired or too busy to accomplish it. You chalk it up to procrastination and move it down your to-do list, even though it’s important.
So what’s really keeping you from starting? Time, money, resources?
The real issue is probably none of these. This task may be totally attainable and logical. I’m suggesting that the real thing that stops us is a little voice called Fear.
It’s the “what if I do” guy. He’s small, wily and he looks like a rat. He’s the guy that shows up to the party, eats all your food, drinks all your beer and leaves without saying goodbye. And you listen to him.
You may not know this, but there’s a “what if you don’t” guy too. He’s usually locked up in the back room of your conscience with a sippy-cup watching reruns of his favorite TV show. Let him out.
He’s a six foot, eight inch tall Knight, clad in iron armor and wields a broadsword the size a VW Beetle. Let me remind you how to let him out.
The next time you think about something scary that you’ve been putting off that you know will help you grow, ask yourself this question: Who’s on my shoulder?
Is it the Rat that’s going to run at the first sign of distress, or is it the behemoth iron clad Knight that can stand a few dings from your task?