From dreaming to doing: What's really stopping you?

Summary:

We all have things we dream about, want to change or know we should do, but knowing isn’t always enough to make it happen. So, what’s really stopping us?

In this article, I explore the gap between thinking about doing something and actually doing it and invite you to get curious about what matters to you, what might be holding you back and whether it’s time to take one small step – or let something go.

There’s also a short exercise to help you explore what’s really important to you right now.

One of my own photos - is it dreamy?

"You can't just sit around and think of all the things you want to do.

You've got to think of what you want to do,

and then you've got to get out and make that happen."

~ Dolly Parton

I think I'm late to the party.

A couple of weeks ago it felt like everybody was talking about Dolly Parton, her death and her legacy. And I saw plenty of her quotes.

Admittedly, I didn't join in, because I only know her name, I don't really know her music (ideally my composers have been dead for at least a couple of hundred years) and I didn't find anything that spoke to me.

Then today, as I was preparing this post, I came across the above quote and it really struck a chord with me.

Because I’m very good at dreaming, I love coming up with new ideas or projects and my to-do lists are always, shall we say, aspirational.

But then I either don't take the time to make it happen, or I genuinely feel I don't have the time.

Having said that, if it's something that's important, I definitely always make time for it and time miraculously appears – and that's the crucial point.

What's the point of dreaming up things and then sitting there, waiting for a months of Sundays and postponing it.

And that got me thinking, because I also hear versions of this all the time:

• I know I need to bring my stress levels down, but I don't have time

• I believe meditation would be good for me, but I can't sit still

• I've got high blood pressure and I should relax more

• I was close to burnout and I don't want to go there again, but I feel like in a rut

Perhaps you recognise yourself in one of these.

“I can't believe how much time I lost trying to tough it out

when such a natural, powerful tool was available."

Bill

Often we know what would be good, helpful or supportive – but knowing isn't necessarily enough.

At some point, something has to happen, we have to make a choice. And this can start by simply asking ourselves:

How important is this to me?

And I'm sure you'll agree – if something really matters, it deserves space in our lives and if it's really important, we'll move heaven and earth to make time for it. And then time miraculously appears.

And if it's not important, because it's still a 'nice to have'?

That's useful information too and we can take it off the list.

So, what's stopping us?

• Well, maybe the pain threshold isn't quite high enough

• Maybe we tell ourselves we are too busy

• Maybe we're waiting for the “right” moment

• Maybe we're not quite ready

And that's OK and useful information as I strongly believe there is a right time for everything.

Sometimes we need to wait for things to get worse to really move us into action, sometimes we need more information and sometimes something simply isn't right for us.

"I spent years managing headaches, convinced I just had to live with it.

Starting TRE was truly life-changing and my only regret is not booking that first session years ago."

Louise

But there are also time when we 'just' know – your gut feeling can't be ignored anymore and you are certain that this matters to you.

And I believe that's worth listening to.

So I invite you to explore for yourself – in any area of life, whether that's your health and well-being, family/relationship, job/business – is there one thing that you'd like to start, change, improve, let go of or give more attention to.

You can start by asking yourself:

1. How important is this to you right now?

Give it a score from 0 – 10.

2.

If it's important – I'd say from 5 onwards – what's one tiny thing you could do to move it forward?

Just one thing, not the whole project or a perfect solution.

3.

And if you are not going to do it now, are you genuinely choosing to wait – or are you simply postponing it?

There's a difference and I'm sure it'll become clear.

4.

What would it feel like to stop carrying this around on your mental to-do list?

And you might decide:

'Yes. This matters. I'm going to do something.'

Or:

'Actually, that's not a priority right now.'

Maybe you need a bit more time. I strongly believe there's a right time for everything and we shouldn't force things, but invite the process to unfold naturally.

Or even:

This isn't important enough anymore. I'm letting it go and can delete it from my list, which is freeing up head space.

All three are perfectly valid and can hopefully help you to become more conscious about what you choose to do and give attention to and why.

And, as always, I'm curious and would love to hear how you get on.

“Life-changing.

I didn’t even realise how much tension I was carrying

until I started shaking it off.

TRE helped me sleep better, feel calmer and

actually enjoy being in my body again.”

Anna

And to make it more concrete and if health and well-being is on your list of things you'd like to address, I invite you to get in touch for a fact-finding chat to explore if TRE can support you in achieving your goal – and this could be your first step.

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I also want to share that I recently connected with Sally DiCesare and within minutes I had that familiar feeling where you just know you’re singing from the same hymn sheet.

We both work around the very same approach: We don’t always have to think or analyse our way through what we’re carrying. Sometimes, it's easier and much more effective to let the wisdom of the body lead.

With TRE®, as physical tension releases and the nervous system settles, it can be a great starting point to create calm and space.

And in that space, we may notice:

• What have I been carrying that isn't even mine? 

• Where have I stopped listening to myself? 

• What have I known all along but been too busy, overwhelmed or responsible to hear?

That’s why Sally’s Unshatterable™ work resonated with me.

Sally helps women who have spent far too long being strong, holding everything together and adapting to everyone else to reconnect with themselves and trust their own inner voice.

We described the connection between our work like this:

Sylvia guides your body to let go of what it’s been holding.

Sally helps you to listen to what you hear when you feel lighter and relaxed.

If this resonates with you, Sally has created a free Unshatterable™ Starter Kit (a 3-Step Guide, a 5-minute masterclass, and a 90-Second Reset) for you.

I believe there's no need to reinvent yourself, you simply need enough room to re-discover who you really are.