新媒网 · 跨境数据社区

We empower that which we fight against… especially if the enemy is intangible, such as “limiting beliefs”. By our continued attention on “clearing” these intangible things, they develop the power to keep multiplying. Our imaginations are rich. Therefore I don’t give much energy to clearing limiting beliefs. But I do see plenty of evidence of limiting structures – tangible systems and processes that people allow to continue, that greatly limits their potential. ** ​Examples of limiting structures: An unstable schedule that prevents you from working consistently on your business. A habit of saying Yes to too many requests or opportunities. A habit of avoiding creative discomfort. Working without process documents and checklists. A habit of working “until something’s finished” rather than a structure for breaks and boundaries with yourself that allow balance among projects and well-being. ** A common limiting structure is an unstable schedule: being blown about by the wind of external demands and internal whims. Be careful what you say Yes to, as it puts constraints on your ability to self-generate your own life structure. This includes your own desires: if you follow them right away, you will have trouble being consistent and having integrity. Instead, write down ideas. Let it marinate for a while. Distance provides perspective. ** Your self-created schedule – and whether you have the habit of following or avoiding it – is either a limiting structure or a liberating one. And it is tied to a habit of facing, or avoiding, creative discomfort. To create anything, from a piece of writing to a successful business, you need to experience (a lot!) the initial discomfort of creating. ** For example, this piece of writing: I was faced with a blank page, other than a few ideas I had brainstormed. How would it turn into an article? I felt anxiety, the possibility of judgment (inner and outer), and therefore, I felt like escaping this task… What will I write? How can something good come out of a blank page when I’m not yet certain what my ideas are? And then, I start writing — practicing the imperfection of creating — and just writing whatever I’m thinking. Then, organizing. Then writing more thoughts. Then editing. I didn’t even notice when discomfort has become flow. This practice of writing is a liberating structure. ** It always happens this way: when I am willing to keep working in spite of the creative discomfort, I am always rewarded – eventually – with the experience of flow. As a result, you now have this post in front of you. How about you: what would you love to create? Therefore, what is the initial discomfort you must cope with? You will feel like escaping to avoid creative discomfort. But if you are willing to keep working despite that initial feeling, you will eventually experience the beautiful feeling of flow. By doing it again and again: working through creative discomfort, to reach creative flow, you will build the habit of self-generating your creativity, anytime you wish. In other words, you will be able to create consistently, on schedule, and thereby, you will build trust in yourself, and also develop your audience’s trust in you. ** This post is getting long enough. I’m grateful for the helpful limiting structure of social media short attention spans! 😆 So I’ll curtail the discussion of the other limiting structures for now. Comment below if you’d like – what might be a “limiting structure” that you can work on, to have the natural result of overcoming the “limiting belief”? What might be a liberating structure to support your business?