Blog
Before you ask what’s next, look at what’s been done
by Amy Riley
August 6, 2011
I think it’s easy for us to constantly be looking at what’s left to do… what we have not yet figured out how to handle… and the gap in all the areas of our lives between where we are now and where we want to be, instead of looking at and appreciating what we’ve already done… what we’ve already learned and figured out how to handle… and the dreams we’ve already brought to fruition. You know what I’m talking about?
I remember right after my son, my second child, was born. I was overwhelmed and really worried about how I was going to get two kids out the door and to daycare each day within a reasonable timeframe, how I was going to have the time and energy to keep my businesses going, how my husband and I were going to create time for us, etc., etc., etc. I was completely forgetting in that moment that I’d had all the same concerns after my daughter, our eldest, was born. And, I was not even thinking to acknowledge how I had figured all this out already! Albeit with one kid and now we had two. But, geez, I had hard evidence that what had previously looked insurmountable was now totally doable. I could do it again.
We are constantly evolving and expanding our capacities. If you’re a parent, a business owner, a project manager of any kind, someone who manages a household, someone with one or more hobbies, you are constantly expanding your capacities. The trick is remembering this when we’re faced with our next opportunity to expand!
How have you expanded your capacities? What did you used to fear that you now handle with ease?
Amy, this is a great reminder of how to ramp up our confidence with real proof from our own past successes. It’s like getting a review at work and ignoring the 10 outstanding things you did and focusing on the 1 think your boss would like you to do better. Why do we do that?! So looking at my own evidence is brilliant Thanks, Beth
Hooray!
What a great reminder!
Instead of walking ahead of ourselves or lingering behind, just be present to where we are walking…that’s what I see…
It’s like a baby learning to walk, sometimes we feel it’s such a slow process and then “they are off” and running, just a metaphor for us to remember to remember, all the progress we’ve made. Thanks for this!