There is nothing better than receiving awesome feedback about a new product or offering. It validates all of your hard work and the energy you’ve exhausted to bring something new into the world. For me, it’s the ultimate form of recognition for someone not only to like my product, but to spend their hard-earned money on it. But, like all things, that type of recognition comes with some scary risks…what if instead of loving your new offering they absolutely hate it? Worse yet, what if the voice in the back of your head whispering to you takes over and you never share your new idea with the world?
That destructive seemingly all-knowing voice…you know the one — it picks at you and tells you “they are all going to think you are a joke, a loser, a total failure” or some other version of “YOU’RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH” or “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?”
One of my favorite punch-you-in-the-gut truth-tellers is researcher and author Brene Brown. Her work on vulnerability allowed me to better understand my own hesitation with certain creative endeavors and helped me to slowly work though some of that discomfort. Through decades of research she has learned certain universal truths about creativity…
It’s scary. It’s really scary to put yourself out there. Oh, and original ideas, those are often the scariest to share.
If you listen to that voice telling you to stay within the boundaries and to keep your life small by avoiding risks…you’re robbing yourself of your full potential and denying the world access to your unique talents.
As scary as it is to open up and share new ideas, designs, projects, or blog posts with the world, you’re also opening yourself up to the opportunity to make new connections and discover new things about yourself and those around you. Running away and hiding yourself and your talents from others will just reinforce the voice telling you that you’re not good enough.
If that negative voice filled with self-doubt is currently taking up residence in your own brain and you haven’t been able to properly tell it to F*CK OFF yet, I’ve got some tips to get you started.
- Get quiet and tune into that voice — hear it now so we can challenge it later
- Recognize that leaning into vulnerability is a practice and it will take time and lots of effort
- Stop worrying about what other people are thinking of you. Easier said than done, right? Truth is, what people think about you is none of your business anyways. Their opinion is shaped by their experiences, something you’ll never be able to duplicate or understand so get off the rat wheel and give it a rest!
- When you find yourself overwhelmed, take 5. Step away. Go find your favorite go-to motivation. I have a pinterest board and a photo album on my phone filled with cheesy motivation quotes…I scroll through and soak it in for a few minutes to recharge my courage.
- Do not take advice from those outside of the arena. Franklin Roosevelt said it best:
If you’re interested in digging deeper into vulnerability, I highly recommend researching the work and writing of Brené Brown…she’s a bad-ass and I’m so grateful for the impact her work has had on my life.
I say, f*ck the fear. Smother that $hit with courage and hustle your way to entrepreneurial success.
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