No Guts, No Glory: 6 Tips for Taking a Much Needed Leap of Faith
By Crystal Kulpcavage of Seeking A Sense of Purpose
“Mommmmmmm. I’m borrrrred.”
Ugh. Nails on a chalkboard fade in comparison to the way that whine makes my skin crawl. I knew motherhood would present a lot of new challenges to me, but the expectation to be a constant entertainer was not one I saw coming.
I regularly remind my 7-year-old son of the abundance of toys, the piles of games and puzzles, and the unlimited possibilities that are available to him. Yet, the whine persists regularly. And worse yet, the follow-up remarks that his toys are boring and he’s already played with all of them, makes me want to feed him a plate full of humility and gratitude.
Setting every mother’s “am I raising a good kid?” paranoia aside, it’s actually not our children’s fault they are always seeking new and exciting experiences. It’s part of our human nature. It’s innate to our wiring.
We are designed to evolve, to grow, to explore. When we feel like we’re not able to do that, that’s when the conflict and the frustration sets in. Our lives start to feel stuck. We start to crave more, although we may not know what that is. We start clinging to the idea of freedom and leaving our stressors behind.
Growth is the root of all joy in our lives. As long as we can feel like we are moving forward and evolving, we can sustain a regular sense of joy, one that keeps us happy when things are going well and one that sustains us through even the darkest times.
Whether you are starting to feel bored and stuck in your own life or career, or you’ve been there for a while and you’re deciding how to move forward, those feelings you are experiencing are there for a reason. There is a better way and your heart is trying to lead you toward it.
When was the last time you tried something new? The last time you took a leap of faith? The last time you looked at the risk and gladly accepted it? Without risk there can be no reward. It’s time to take a leap of faith and these tips will lead you through it.
1 – Test the waters first. The brain doesn’t know the difference between real and imagination. If you were to take a bite of a lemon or just think about biting a lemon, your brain would light up in the same way.
Use this skill to your advantage! Take time to center yourself and quietly visualize any change or decision you may be considering. Dabble in the possibilities. What would this option look like? How does it feel?
2 – Trust your gut. Your inner being knows all. You have an emotional guidance system that is constantly telling you when to move forward and when to hold tight. If we practice tapping into that guidance, we can feel confident we are making the best decisions for ourselves.
There’s a difference between dread and excitement. Is this opportunity lighting you up even though you have some fears surrounding it? Or does this opportunity feel incredibly wrong to you? Practice checking in with yourself so you can understand the difference.
3 – Action fuels motivation. It’s not the other way around. Is part of you interested in a new opportunity, but you’re not sure you feel like going through with it? Don’t worry. Once you step up and do something out of your comfort zone, you’re going to light a fire within yourself that will lead you to even more meaning and accomplishment in your life. This can be the point when everything changes for you.
Starting the process is always more difficult than following through. We just need a few seconds of courage to break through that resistance and everything is downhill from there. Trust me, you’ll look back and realize how much easier it was than you made it out to be.
4 – You have what you need. We didn’t come into this world ill-equipped. If you have an idea of something you might want to do, you have what you need to get the job started. Any other skills or experience you may need can be learned along the way. Everything can be learned.
5 – Remember who you are. If I asked you to list everything you don’t like about yourself, I bet the words would come flowing out of your mouth before I finished my sentence. If I asked you to tell me all that you’ve overcome and accomplished in your life, including the value you brought to each of those situations, I guarantee there would be hesitation.
Take a moment to sit down and list what you’re most proud of, what skills you relied on to handle those situations, and the value that became of it. You’re much more powerful than you give yourself credit for. You just may need a little reminder.
6 – Get comfortable being uncomfortable. If we wait for a circumstance to be perfect, we’ll be waiting forever. We need to learn how to build the plane while we are flying it. Take a step forward, see that you are safe, and repeat. One day you’ll look back and be amazed at where you started from.
The next time we hear our children whining that something is boring, maybe we should work harder to encourage them to try something new, rather than convince them that what they have is good enough. Encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and support them through the process. Show them what they’re made of. It’s an incredible skill to teach ourselves and our kids. No guts, no glory.
Crystal Kulpcavage, MBA, CPC, ELI-MP, RM unites and empowers professionals to get out of their own way and create fulfilling lives and careers with ease. Crystal is a certified core energy leadership coach, a motivational speaker, a life and career/business strategist, a Reiki Master and energy healer, a former software engineer and corporate leader, and a business owner.
SeekingASenseofPurpose.com Your Life. Your Dreams. Your Terms. No Regrets.
Are you seeking some much-needed change in your life or career? Crystal will be facilitating complimentary Healing Circles at the Guts and Glory Expo this year!
Healing Circles are a great opportunity to connect with like-minded souls who are working through similar challenges. Learn how to see your stressors from a new perspective, receive expert advice, and identify what steps you can take to move forward with ease. You’ll walk away with a newfound sense of clarity and motivation for creating positive change in your life.
Not interested in sharing your story with others? No problem. Your presence is enough. While you’re welcome to ask questions and share your concerns, it’s not necessary. General tips and tricks will be given, plus just listening to the stories of others fosters a sense of relief and confidence to move forward.
Each circle/discussion will be focused on a particular topic. No registration is necessary. Simply join a circle of your choice at the appropriate time, based on the schedule below:
12:00pm Rebuilding After Loss – Nothing causes us to wake-up more to what life is all about than enduring a loss. Whether your have dealt with the passing of a loved one, a divorce, a long-term illness, or any other loss that has left you feeling shaken and unsure of the future, this discussion will help you receive the support you need to gain healing, clarity, and motivation to move forward and rebuild.
1:00pm Dealing With A Toxic Career or Relationship – No one can thrive in a toxic situation. Whether your work environment is draining your soul, or your relationship makes you want to run for the hills, this discussion will show you who you have to be to resolve this situation. There are always options, but all change starts with you.
2:00pm Finding Your Path – Sometimes the worst feeling is knowing something needs to change, but having no idea what that change is. Perhaps your career is not right for you, but you don’t know what would be better. Or maybe your life just isn’t turning out the way you expected and you don’t know what to do next. This discussion will help you uncover what it is that you are meant to do in this life and how to start pursuing it.
Each healing circle will begin promptly at the designated time. No payment is required. Just stop by and grab a seat. Seating is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
