I remember when I first started my own business years ago, and I thought the freelance life meant I would be more independent, more in charge of my schedule and able to take off whenever I wanted.
It was the opposite.
I worked harder and longer with fewer breaks than anytime in my life. I let my thinking convince me "you never know when the work will dry up!" So I took everything that came along. I didn't dare take a break or go on vacation -- in case something came up. I saw myself as a beggar in a world of scarcity with an insecure future.
I became exhausted and my life and relationships suffered.
What's worse, I ran out of the creative ideas I needed to run my business. The work didn't dry up, I dried up.
I won't make that mistake again. The only thing that secures your future (if there is such a thing) is your own well-cared for internal resources. And I don't mean just eating well and going to the gym. To be fully ourselves we need a free mind. One that is unencumbered by mis-interpreted thoughts of fear, dread and doubt.
That may seem to suggest you go get some better thoughts, buy yourself some confidence or get going on those affirmations, but that's not what I mean.
Forget all that stuff. If you have to plan, go for some well-planned, 'do nothing' time. Nothing in the diary. Nothing in the schedule. Nothing to fix in your head. No 'better thoughts' to get. No need to become someone different.
Just relax into yourself.
I've just taken some time off from my own diary and I plan to do it again. If you'd like to join me...click here
It was the opposite.
I worked harder and longer with fewer breaks than anytime in my life. I let my thinking convince me "you never know when the work will dry up!" So I took everything that came along. I didn't dare take a break or go on vacation -- in case something came up. I saw myself as a beggar in a world of scarcity with an insecure future.
I became exhausted and my life and relationships suffered.
What's worse, I ran out of the creative ideas I needed to run my business. The work didn't dry up, I dried up.
I won't make that mistake again. The only thing that secures your future (if there is such a thing) is your own well-cared for internal resources. And I don't mean just eating well and going to the gym. To be fully ourselves we need a free mind. One that is unencumbered by mis-interpreted thoughts of fear, dread and doubt.
That may seem to suggest you go get some better thoughts, buy yourself some confidence or get going on those affirmations, but that's not what I mean.
Forget all that stuff. If you have to plan, go for some well-planned, 'do nothing' time. Nothing in the diary. Nothing in the schedule. Nothing to fix in your head. No 'better thoughts' to get. No need to become someone different.
Just relax into yourself.
I've just taken some time off from my own diary and I plan to do it again. If you'd like to join me...click here