1, 2, 3,...ready?
How do you know?
Is it a feeling? A decision? Or...both?
I read somewhere that "readiness" isn't always a feeling, it can be a decision. In my experience? It can be a combination.
Sometimes you just "know" you're ready for something - for me, it's usually a sensation in my heart or gut. Like when I was at the starting line for a race. The preparation was done and it was a matter of waiting for the starter pistol. I always felt a visceral pull in my chest...a sign, amongst others, that I was ready to go.
Other times? A decision had to be made. There were no physical/visual/auditory cues...at least not at first.
How about you? How do you know when you're "ready" for something? Do you wait for the feeling, or make a decision?
The cool thing? When you make that decision to be ready, you CAN pull on those sensations or, they will come up. It's just that they come up after you've made the decision to be ready.
Chicken or egg situation? Maybe. Regardless...both seem to work.
Readiness can be an intellectual decision and also a feeling. Knowing that intellectualizing something and thinking about it sometimes isn't enough to get you going. It's easier to respond to a feeling for sure.
So how do you make that distinction? How do you decide that you're ready for something?
By tuning into the unique clues you already have deep inside of you.
Ready to explore?
Let’s get to it…
Your challenge…
What prevents you from feeling "ready enough"? Overthinking, doubt, fear? Or any one of the usual suspects.
Imagine picking one situation now and let's explore how you can make a decision to be ready.
I suggest that you read these instructions and then take a moment to close your eyes and do this exercise.
Start with a deep breath and let's go!
I want you to think of a time you felt ready for something. Allow something to come up for you. Whatever comes up is the right thing in this moment. Your brain doesn't do random.
Start to track through your body and notice all the physical sensations that you are feeling.
I tend to feel a pull in my chest when I'm ready for something. For you, it may be completely different. Pay attention. What are some of the physical sensations? Notice your breath, any sensations of tension or relaxation, tingling or warmth. Notice. What do you feel in your body when you're ready for something?
Now draw your attention to the sounds of this experience.
Notice any sounds around you. Are they loud or soft, muffled or clear? Maybe there's a rhythm to them? What about inside your head? Sometimes there's a voice going on, or a song. Pay attention to any sounds there too.
When you finish checking in with the sounds take a moment to notice what you're seeing in this experience.
Where's the light coming from? Is it a moving picture or is it still? Focused or blurry? All of those things. Take in all of the details of what you're seeing. If you can't see anything then imagine what you would see.
Then track through once more.
Get really clear on what being ready feels like for you.
This is what it feels like to be 'ready' for you. Awesome.
Now check in with that small situation you picked and notice what's different about it.
Readiness is a feeling.
The thing is, sometimes being ready won't start with a feeling, sometimes, being ready is going to have to be a conscious decision that ends up with the feeling. It can be a conscious decision. The cool thing? When you make that decision to be ready, oftentimes, the feelings will come back up in your body so you'll get that knowing sensation in your body.
Don't knock it until you try it! Everything you've done has happened in your body, trust it.
Confidence is a process. Essentially it's making the decision to be brave and courageous and just do that thing that you may not feel completely ready for. A process of trying things, often before you "feel" ready, and, with practice and the reminder that you do know how to "do" ready...you can nudge the process along. You've got this!
If you're ready to be ready Contact me You have all of the skills, strengths, and capabilities you need. Let’s work together and reconnect you with them!
Warmly,
Ann
1, 2, 3, …ready? Go!