From the Wisdom Vault...

How to Stare Down Doubt

I know the feeling. One day you're clipping along at a thrilling pace in your coaching business, in touch with your original passion and vision. Synchronicity abounds. Then suddenly, you feel paralyzed by doubt, unsure if this is the right business, the right time, the right decision. You ask: Do I have what it takes to be successful?

The answer is yes, yes, yes! You've just had a temporary loss of inspiration.

Here's the first thing to know: you are on the right path. If you weren't occasionally experiencing doubts, fears, tests and obstacles as you build your coaching business, I'd say you're probably not on the right path.

While uncomfortable to feel, doubts and fears are allies. They are instinctive feelings coming from our body's wisdom as an invitation to stop before we cross a threshold into the unknown. So we feel "frozen in fear".

The Magician in All of Us

Fear is the gateway to the magician archetype - a part in all of us that seeks to know. A magician magically transforms spirit into matter -- passion and vision into tangible success. The opportunity of fear and doubt is to expand our knowing.

Ask any creator or hero -- scientists, inventors, artists, and entrepreneurs -- they will all say that their greatest inspirations sprang out of a dark place. Wrestling with fears and doubts is a necessary step to achieve greatness.

So, how do you stare down doubt?

1. Look at it with compassion.
Be okay with the doubt. The less you resist, the more quickly it will pass.

2. Stop and breathe.
Take a break from productivity.

3. Give it a voice.
Write down your raw feelings. Or, tell your coach, trusted colleague or friend what you fear most without judgment about it.

4. Do a quick risk assessment.
What is really at risk here? Are you willing to take that risk? What will it do for you? What will it cost you if you don't? What patterns, habits or scarcity thinking can you replace with something more empowering?

5. Arm yourself.
Remember your original calling -- that vision is powerful. Allow that frozen place to melt by getting in touch again with your passion.

6. Be powerfully at choice.
Choose the thoughts and actions that will serve your highest good.

7. Get support
Take a page from Harry Potter (or any other heroic story) and you'll see that no one transcends obstacles or achieves greatness without help.

To your prosperity!

Rhonda Hess
Founder, Prosperous Coach

Copyright © 2007 Bubbling Well Inc.