3 simple keys to living a bolder life
If you’re feeling like there are hurdles left right and centre, it can be easy to imagine that you’re the only one feeling stuck. You watch others charge ahead, secure in knowing what they want and how they’ll get it.
Fear of missing out can set in, which adds frustration and even shame. You may pretend to be happy when you’re not, scared of making a move in case you let others down. It’s the entry point to an emotional downward spiral that can be difficult to break out of.
Taken from a recent discussion I had with leadership coach Grant Phyphers, this short blog examines the intriguing relationship between honesty, vulnerability and adaptability in unlocking more in your life.
These three powerful elements fit together beautifully.
1. Be you
Curiosity opens the door to honesty.
It sounds a bit obvious and I’m sure you’ve heard it all before but there is nothing cliche about the power of recognising your unique talents and purpose. In episode 3 of my podcast, click here or search ‘Marianne Welsh Unlock More’ on your favourite podcast platform, Grant relates how 200 despondent faces suddenly lit up a 6th-form hall when every young person in the room realised they were sent here to do something. Their individuality was not just valuable, it was necessary to make the world go round.
You’re no different. Recognise that you’re an influencer and that you can affect change in others, whether that’s good or not-so-good – what will you choose?
We don’t all have to be the same and by giving ourselves permission to be different, we liberate our creativity and vitality. It releases us to explore what our identity is and the role we play in the wider picture.
2. Be vulnerable
Honesty opens the door for change.
A frank discussion with someone trusted or with ourselves in front of the mirror will throw up the secrets of who we are and what we dream of. It’s the way we peel back the layers to reveal our purpose and what gets us out of bed. We take a look at our natural attributes and the skills we want to develop.
A deeper level of honesty again reveals what we’re not so proud of. It uncovers the areas of our personality that we’ve kept locked up along with our fears and insecurities. By giving these a name, we’re able to work out the way forward.
‘Paint a bigger picture’, Grant says. ‘Discover how you’re made and you’ll be able to navigate change.’
3. Be open
Change opens the door to opportunity.
‘Change pulls us forward,’ Grant says, ‘but there is always something else reigning us back like fear, trepidation or baggage from our past’.
So if the idea of change scares the life out of you, look back to when you’ve managed it well before. What got you through? Who got you through? It’s entirely possible that if you tap into these things again, you’ll come out on top.
In the end, instead of feeling fearful about change, you may get an appetite for it. What if your future worked out better than you ever imagined? What role do you think being able to spot cleverly disguised opportunities plays in this type of success?
Understanding what this means for you
Curiosity drives my work with my clients – I’m interested in what makes them tick, what drives them forward and what stands in their way. I know we all have our own unique challenges to overcome but I’m intrigued by commonalities and patterns and in particular, the themes that come up time and again.
I’m endlessly fascinated by what these things teach me about my own life and practice.
So here’s my challenge to you. Step back and take a moment to pause, think and write down, what purpose have you come to fulfil, what talents are you hiding and what’s holding you back from sharing them.
If this process seems overwhelming right now, there’s no need to do it alone. It’s the kind of work I do with my clients every day, so let’s have a chat.