How to Prevent Loss of Opportunity
Is it common for you to find yourself doubting your skills, abilities and worth?
There are times when great opportunities come knocking at our door (be it a potential romantic relationship, chance for promotion, event that allows you to bring your gifts and talents to the table) only to be hindered by the incessant discussion going on in our mind.
If you’ve watched the Inside Out movie you’ll know how it goes...
Joy: this is a great chance for insert your name to shine and show others the potential within her/him/them!
Anxiety: do you know how many things could go wrong if we are not prepared? I’ll need to retrieve all the memories where insert your name failed at … to remind her/him/them not to make the same mistakes again.
Anger: why don’t we just bulldoze through this and show them who’s the boss?
Disgust: and embarrass insert your name when it all flops? Ew, no.
Sadness: now I’m thinking back on a past event that didn’t go as well and this is making me sad..
Our mind wants the best of us and oftentimes sends out thoughts with the intention to protect us. Yet if we overindulge in an anxiety mindset, questioning our worth and capabilities whenever a new opportunity arises, those thoughts might not be as helpful as we think they are.
When we constantly think of the worst case scenarios, we can feel helpless, hopeless and lost. This may spiral into thoughts that tell us how
another person can do a much better job than us
the good opportunity should come to us later at a time when we are more prepared
which ultimately leads to greater emotions of anxiety and the desire to avoid or escape the situation.
Alternatively, there are others who would dive head first into saying YES to those opportunities but going in without a plan.
All of your emotions serve a purpose and they are here to support you. Not one emotion is inherently better than another but they may be more beneficial depending on the situation.
When we let the negative thoughts spiral, we get confused, we lose trust in ourselves and insecurity starts to grow. This can result in inaction and lost opportunity.
Know this: when you choose not to do anything about a situation, you are making a decision too. Inaction is also a choice of action.
How to not feel insecure and embrace the change that comes your way:
1. Consider the contributions you are making in another’s life.
Perhaps someone is coming to you to help out with a project. They are coming to you because they know you have the skill sets, the expertise and they know you’ll be a contributing team player. Like I always tell my clients and close friends “zoom out and see, there are things that fall out of our radar when we are too caught up in the minute details.” Instead of worrying about your insecurities, trust that you are capable of figuring things out.
You were not born on day one knowing how to brush your teeth, but today you are able to brush, floss and bring yourself to the dentist. Likewise, you’re not born knowing how to solve every crisis but you are built to adapt to the situation and emerge victorious.
We learn and we grow. Life is always a learning journey, if you stop learning you stop growing. While you’re on your learning journey, you can assist others who need your help. You can be a beacon of light by sharing your gifts and talents, and by saying YES to the opportunity that comes your way even if there is doubt.
2. Get support from people who will motivate you, encourage you to step out of your comfort zone.
Know that friend who you can count on when the sky falls and all things go wrong? Speak to the person you trust most and get their insight. We often focus too much on our negative traits that we forget that we are human with the potential to do so much more if we only acknowledge our positive traits.
3. Balance is key.
It is crucial to have discernment but to also allow space for wonderment and curiosity. Carefulness and analytical thinking can protect you from harm and help you make wise decisions (thank you Anxiety). However, having the heart of exploration, the trust to try new things and the faith that things will work out will bring you to greater destinations you cannot fathom (I see you Joy).
P.s Another food for thought about balance – are you indulging in distractions so you won’t have to face the responsibility of making decisions? As I’ve mentioned earlier, choosing not to make decisions is also a decision in itself.
Let me know your thoughts and reflections down in the comments section! I would love to hear what you think. Are there decisions that you need to make that are being pushed off, or are excited to say YES too?
If you’d like to dive deeper into seeking professional help for your mental wellness, I’m opening up my books for 1:1 Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) sessions. RTT can help you understand and overcome unhelpful, critical thought patterns that contribute to overall stress.
By communicating directly with your subconscious mind, you can discover what’s truly draining your energy and empower yourself to choose different thoughts and actions. By changing your focus and thoughts you can change the outcomes in your life.
I've assisted many people, like you, in making significant life changes in order to feel whole, complete and satisfied with the person you’re becoming. Get in touch with me here if you're ready to make changes in your life and get EVERYTHING you need to live the life you desire (because it IS available to you) ➡️ https://emergedbutterfly.com/application
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