Do You Feel Stuck About Your Career Choices? Tips to Get Yourself Out of a Mindset Slump: Ha-Ha’s, Aha’s! and Action Steps

Just before making a big leap or a major breakthrough in your business, everyone hits a wall or experiences a mindset slump. Some people experience this transition as horrible self-doubt, some as hopelessness or defeat. Others may have unexpected outbursts of anger, feel irritable or royally pissed off—at themselves or others.

Of course, it’s always helpful to be conscious of why you may be reacting (notice I said “reacting”) to a big change you WANT in your life and your business. It’s best to become proactive so the reactions don’t sabotage the big changes you are stepping into.

Pain and discomfort come with the territory.

Maybe you recognize yourself in some of these real-life examples from my clients this week.

• You really Do WANT to FEEL SELF-CONFIDENT in your terrific new company. You DO WANT to grow into that leadership role, but you have to prove yourself, communicate better and show up fully on projects at the office.
• You are SO SICK of your current J.O.B. you could just puke. But your new business idea is still in the idea stages and you are deep in self-doubt and your own emotional doo-doo.
• You are going for a great BIG Role in the world and you WANT the BIG Life of Impacting Others that comes with it, but then some guy comes along and seems so much more hotsy-totsy and sparkly-shiny that your self-confidence wavers next to him. And it impacts every aspect of your entire LIFE!
• You have been in business; you are an expert, yet you want to EXPAND and SERVE in a much bigger way, but it means increasing your CAPACITY, calling on all your INNER RESOURCES, LETTING YOURSELF BE GUIDED BY COACHES who can see-the-forest-for-the-trees! It means doing things that are new and doing things that are outside your comfort zone, and all your “stuff” is kicking up and doing a jig!

That’s the thing about wanting to grow your business, career or work life. The kicker is: YOU have to grow. It’s the unknown. The new. It’s uncomfortable. Growing pains happen when we stretch.

What I’ve been really aware of recently is how so many people turn the BIG LIFE VISION & DECISION (read: potential EXCITEMENT) to develop their leadership, find, start or grow their business against themselves. They shame and blame, doubt and emotionally wallow in their fears (which is all somewhat normal), however the detrimental part is when you lose sight that it’s a momentary or passing or ebbing and flowing feeling and you let it negatively color and impact how you assess and feel about every aspect of your entire being and your life.

• So the good news is: This response is perfectly normal just before you are going to take a major big leap.
• So what to do about it? The truth is different things work for different people, and at different times. So I decided to simply data-dump a list of tips you can pick and choose from. Some a fun, some serious, and some are simply getting down to business!

Do Something—Anything—Different

Whatever you do, just don’t indulge in doing the same old, same old. That leads to digging a deeper emotional rut. It’s also good to bring some action, movement and voice into whatever you do.

Hug a Tree; Pet a Puppy; Talk to an Old Person

There’s that movement again! Go for a walk or run. Do something silly like hug a tree or wade in a stream, jump in a lake. Stop and chat with an old person who other people may not notice or ignore. Make friends with puppies and smile at babies, say hello to children you pass. It’s pretty hard to feel sorry for yourself if you’re around little ones.

Go Ahead. Have a Hissy Fit!

Sometimes you just want to have a pity party or lie down on the floor and have a temper tantrum. That’s okay. It’s okay to cry or lie down on the floor and have a good old foot stomping, turn blue in the face temper tantrum about how hard it is right now. In the privacy of your own space, go ahead and make like a 4 year old. Make some noise. Verbalize what you are struggling with. Do it real serious for 5 or 10 minutes til you feel spent. Then take a nap or go about your day.

Turn On Some Music—and Dance!

Movement gets those emotions flowing out of your body and releases those brain chemicals that induce a better mood.

Have a Belly Laugh

Rent or go to a funny movie or comedy show. Lie on the floor with your kids, heads on one another’s bellies and start a giggle circle. I dare you to feel sorry for yourself afterward!

Clean and Clear Some Clutter

You may start by being irritable, but as you sort or organize or clean or throw, mutter outloud to yourself about what it is you are trying to grow toward, what it is you really want in your life and just how hard it is. Then as you progress, talk out loud to the walls as you clean and tell them exactly how big you are going to grow. This is not your doubting self talking – This is what you WANT. Be adamant and make your vision BIG. Then talk loudly and tell the Universe just what you are going to do to make this happen. (You may want a tablet nearby to write down your thoughts and verbalizing as you get clear.)

Spend 20 Minutes Making Appointments for You

The last person you take care of is you. So get out your calendar and go to your phone. Tick them off. Make at least 5 appointments this month with your favorite hairdresser, manicurist, pilates trainer, running buddy, doctor, dentist, etc. You’ll look better, feel better and like yourself better.

Exercise and Meditate

Put regular exercise, yoga and meditation on your schedule. Carve out some time for you! Answers come when you frequently get quiet.

Feed Yourself

Literally! Go Grocery Shopping.  Fill the frig with easy-to-prep foods YOU LOVE! Then spend 1-2 hours prepping foods for this week.

Figuratively: The bigger question is: Are you taking care of yourself – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually? If not, begin to nurture and feed yourself, please!

And check out my F.R.E.E. Reports on some other ways to nourish your professional life here!     

What’s My Pay-Off?

Ask yourself: What is staying small, hanging on to a negative mindset doing for me? Because it’s doing something! We get a pay-off even if it’s a negative one. So explore this and see what you come up with. Then ask: Is it getting you the outcome you desire?

Come Back to Your Vision

When your head is clear ask yourself: If I were not afraid (mad, sad , angry etc.) do I still want this? Am I willing WILL to work for it to put in the time, work and effort? Is it part of my path and my purpose? Would I feel totally excited if I had reached my goal?

Am I WILLING?

Nobody said you have to LOVE all the hard work and growth that comes with embracing your Vision and the Stepping UP it requires. The real question is: Are you WILLING to do the work, to face your fears, to let your coach guide you and your support people listen to your woes (but not baby you) and cheer you when you succeed in making small steps?

Do NOT Bow Down to Your Doubts

It’s really important to acknowledge or doubts, anxieties and fears. It’s important not to deny them or they will trip you up. Do don’t stuff them under the rug, but what is your guiding light? Are you going to honor your doubts and empower them like the Emperor in his new clothes? 

Punch Out Your Saboteurs With POST-IT NOTES!

I can’t go into this more right here, but a surefire exercise to confront your Emotional Saboteurs can be found in my free report 

Okay. That’s a short list of ideas! Give them a try and let me know in the COMMENTS Section what your BIG Desired LEAP is, how your Emotional Saboteurs are squawking, and what you do to still the din and move forward.

If there is any way I can be of assistance in helping you take this huge step toward growing your business, please reach out and contact me via my terrific VA and team at  TeamSuccess@BigPictureConnections.com.