I struggled for years with no direction. I actually said the words, “I need to find myself before I can…” basically announcing to the world that nothing should be expected of me until I what…mapped out my future? Had a moment of enlightenment? I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but I was certain that something would happen to spur an a-ha moment or a magical transformation, turning me into who I was supposed to be. So I waited. ‘She’s so lucky,’ I would think when I’d see my peers pursuing their passions or experiencing success in their fields. A tiny part of me that I’m not proud of felt like someone else’s success would limit mine. Like there’s a success pie we are all feeding from and I wasn’t going to get my fair share. Of pie. I love pie. Two things — both involving me being wrong— One, those women weren’t lucky. They worked hard, sacrificed, and were brave in putting themselves out there in the name of following their dreams. Luck simply wasn’t a factor. Two…there is no pie! It’s a lie we tell our scared selves so that we can stay in a safe place. There’s enough to go around, and then some. The reality of it is that operating from a place of scarcity, begets more scarcity. Abundance is where we should all be living — a place where the success of others buoys our spirits, psyches and happiness. Read Glennon Melton’s piece on abundance if you have a chance, it shifted my thinking and for that I am ever so grateful. You can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket, just like you can’t live your life the way you were meant to, without showing up. Showing up just means taking stock of what you have, right here, right now, and doing something with it. Not waiting for the ‘perfect’ time, or for the stars to align, but immediately. Right now. Small, positive steps have a cumulative effect. Big, impressive things don’t just materialize from nothing. Intentionality, patience and small steps lead to big things over time. But there is no payoff for things you intend to do. Only the things you DO. Teddy knew what he was talking about… Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. -Theodore Roosevelt …as does this life coach… Don’t wait for something big to occur. Start where you are, with what you have, and that will always lead you into something greater. -Mary Manin Morrissey …and this deep thinker must have known I would be needing lots of direction… Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. -George Bernard Shaw I picture George gently saying this to me while pulling me off my arse and escorting me to my imaginary workbench to see what tools I have available to work with today. All so simple, right? Right! But folks, don’t mistake simple for easy. Simple = Straightforward Easy = Effortless Most things worth pursuing aren’t effortless, but it sure is nice when they are straightforward! Lucky for us, this is one of those things. Figure out what YOUR starting point is. Own it. It’s not anyone else’s, so stop comparing. How many times have we heard the phrase ‘humble beginnings’ and found it inspirational or given props, mental or otherwise, to whomever it was that started humbly? EVERY TIME! Because they put in the effort, and we all know that after starting, that’s the hardest part. I’m still in the humble part of my beginnings, which started with a pen and a pad of paper (yes, I’m old school). Many days I hold my breath because it’s scary to put myself out there, attempt grace in the face of rejection, or have some days feel like the first day all over again. Every once in a while though, there’s a little, tiny win, and it’s exciting enough to cover the other days that aren’t. So, what do you have at your fingertips right now? Okay, now start. Right. Where. You. Are. And by all means, let me know how it goes! xo, Abby
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AuthorAbby Messner Archives
October 2019
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