Trusting the process is easier said than done.
When I first began creating my online products, I was overwhelmed because I wanted to get everything right. I wanted my ebook to be perfect, so instead of allowing myself to create and iterate freely, I constantly monitored and policed my work.
If you find yourself constantly feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in a cycle of self-doubt, then it’s time for you to take a step back and remember this:
No one starts off excellent. Give yourself time to be a beginner.
For me, perfectionism is always the culprit, but many others may experience this roadblock due to things like impatience or even a fear of judgment. Whatever the reason is that’s causing so much resistance in the development of your business life, I want to offer a quick process to help ground you and overcome these moments.
Step 1: Acknowledge and accept where you currently are in your process.
That acceptance creates space between where you are now and where you want to be. In this space, you can recognize things like your skill level, how long you’ve been creating, the amount of resources you have, or even how far you’ve come. By naming and accepting where you are in the present, you can create or build freely without judgment.
Step 2: Name your next step and take it.
Pick a direction and follow through. There is no room for self-doubt or procrastination when you are in motion. In order to stop feeling stuck and to get out of your head, you have to keep moving, even if the next step is messy or you’re unsure it will work. This could look like emailing one potential customer, posting one offer, or drafting one messy page. Whatever happens, you will gain clarity in knowing whether to keep going down that path or to pivot.
Step 3: Reflect on the outcome.
In moments like these, self-reflection is a necessity. Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, full of self-doubt, or impatience is not always just a hiccup in the road, but it could be an indicator of a bigger, subconscious issue at play. Reflect on what about this process triggered these feelings. For me, I needed to understand why being a beginner made me so uncomfortable, which led to my discovery of perfectionism. For you, it may not be so dramatic, but it never hurts to find out.
Your business is not only about what you produce and your customers, but it can also be a journey of self-discovery if you allow it to be. The next time feelings of overwhelm flood in, try to slow down and find out if the problem is your business or within you.