Antici…pation.
I’m getting ready to head off on a much-anticipated eighteen day vacation to the woods of (farther) western New York. With no internet. Wowza. And I’m so excited. And incredibly stressed. And doing a lot of spinning around inside my own head.
Anticipation is kind of a double-edged sword. When it’s positive, focused on the good, it can be exhilarating. Keeps us going, moving forward, adrenaline pumping, shivers down the spine.
But at the same time, it can take the not-so-positive bits and spin them, ratchet them up, until they’re so much bigger than they need to be.
It’s an odd oscillation between “can’t wait!” and “oh my gods ALL THE THINGS”. Mountains out of molehills and whatnot.
Yesterday, this manifested in a “do I have enough underwear” breakdown for me.
But this isn’t just about camping and my knickers.
Waiting for Change
When you’re facing a change (and let’s face it, business is allll about change), it’s so easy to get caught in a state of anticipatory flux. Launches are a great example – the “woo let’s go!” feeling of the initial idea generation, the “what if no one’s interested?!” slump, the “let’s get it out there!” push, the “what if I suck?” fears, all knocking you around and up and down and sideways.
The anticipation, the buildup, the waiting. All flying around your head. Every moment threatening to knock you off course.
So what can you do? How can you keep the anticipation from becoming all-consuming?
- Remember that it’s all in your head. You don’t know what’s going to happen, and giving energy to potential outcomes does no one a bit of good. Things are never as big, or as bad, as we make them out to be in our own minds.
- Think about what you can do. Connect with people you know will like your offering. Do whatever it is that makes you feel safe and confident in your own skin. Remember that Target is right down the road and you can buy more knickers. Baby steps, baby.
- Seek your comfort zone. Make an effort to do the things that make you feel good, that make you feel like you. Seek out ways to incorporate those things into what you’re doing, what you’re launching. Build safe spaces in your new world.
- Ride high on the little things. Remember the reasons why you do what you do, why you love what you’re launching, why you’re spending your month in a tent. Rejoice in them. Embrace them. Anticipate them. :)
So tell me…what are you anticipating?
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Enjoy your vacation, Dani! Very wise advice. In 3 weeks I’m anticipating an e-course I’m been looking forward to taking, which I’m hoping will take me out of my comfort zone a bit. ;o) Happy Days!
Hope you got out of your comfort zone, Tracy – would love to hear all about it!