A tale of overcoming self-doubt, joint, and caramel oat milk latte
So today I moderated a talk at a networking event for women entrepreneurs. The topic was ‘Ways of overcoming self-doubt and boost self-confidence’.
The Then
When I was first contacted about this opportunity a few weeks ago and asked whether I would be interested in facilitating the discussion, my first internal reaction was: *shocked face emoji* me?! Nooo. No way. You must be mistaking. Who am I to sit in front of all these women and tell them how to deal with self-doubt and inspire self-confidence? No no no no no.
The Now
Now, if you had asked me a year and a half ago, when I had just started my business, the answer would have eventually been ‘no thank you’, most likely after days of obsessive self-doubt, second-guessing and anxiety. Today (or a few weeks ago rather), I was able to separate myself from this overwhelming feeling of self-doubt. I allowed myself to take a step back, to remind myself that this is not me (we are not our emotions/fears/doubts) and to courageously seize the opportunity. I was given the chance to share my journey with other women entrepreneurs, and hopefully inspire them and perhaps even help them in some way with my hands-on tips and tricks (been there, tried a lot). When Shannon (that’s the name I give the voice that constantly puts me down) finally sh*t up I was able to see this clearly – and there was no way I was turning this down. In your face Shannon (we’re good, really, she means well)!
The Why
The reason I’m dictating this story to my phone right now (for which share = Cher – yes, my phone actually spelled ‘Cher’ instead of the word ‘share’) is that it’s a great example of my life right now. Also, I’m rolling a joint in my (parked) car and it saves me from typing. But mostly because I want to tell you this: my mind was screaming ‘no don’t it! It’s so scary! You hate public speaking and get really nervous! Why would you do this to yourself? You might fail, get humiliated, get out of your comfort zone or worse, die.’ I’m only exaggerating slightly here. Was I nervous? Sure, a little. I was worried people would judge me. I was worried my ‘stuff’ wasn’t enough. Or that it was too much. But guess what? I did it anyway. Why? That’s the beauty of entrepreneurship.
The Courage
Along the way, you learn that the tight feeling you get in your stomach/chest/throat (depends for everyone), that anxiety, is just fear. And when fear shows up like that, that’s the good stuff. That’s when I know I’m onto something. That this is likely to be worth pursuing. Does it always turn out great? Yes, in a way, because I tried. And going against that feeling takes courage. And when I show courage, even if the outcome isn’t as X as expected, I make myself proud. I prove good old Shannon wrong. And then I try again. Brene Brown says that courage is a training, a constant practice. Courage leads to more courage. She is so right. Today I feel like I can do anything. And next time I can, and will, chose courage again.
The Gratitude
Before I leave you ladies to enjoy my celebratory joint and hazelnut oat milk latte, know this: if I did this, so can you. I sat in front of 9 other women and shared some of my toughest times during my transition from full-time corporate sales to cannapreneur, as well as what helped me get through them. And they loved it (I mean helloooooo! I even made handouts), and shared their own struggles. I am so grateful for that time today, and for sharing it with these amazing women. And I am an amazing woman entrepreneur too. Go us!
Much love, A.M.P xx
PS. How did you demonstrate courage this week? Share if you will – you’re amazing too. Seriously, you are.
PS2. Would you like a copy of today’s handout where I share my tips for overcoming self-doubt and boosting self-confidence? Includes immediate action for you to take (feel free to get in touch for added accountability). Email us: hello@bloemetmoi.com, I’ll get it to you in no time by email, since I can’t figure out how to create a form for download with mailchimp (argh!!).