Failure’s Kryptonite… Self-Leadership!

By Cynthia Watts-Murphy, Love Your Legacy Coaching LLC
​For as long as I can remember I've always been interested in pursuing optimal human performance, (inspired by watching Russian gymnast, Olga Korbut and black and white Superman reruns). When I was a young person, two things occurred: I wanted to understand why I was here, (as a human on Earth); and, as a wannabe Olympic gymnast, I had to find out how I could get more energy to do gymnastics even better. I needed answers to these questions. This is when I became a personal growth sponge.  

To be honest, my main motivation was that I felt like I just didn’t fit in. Saddled with social insecurity and physical awkwardness, more often, I tried to hide my existence by being quiet and shy. What’s humorous about that is, I’ve always been one of the tallest, biggest people in any given room. 
 
So, I began searching for solutions:  everything from archaic nutrition and exercise regimens of the 1960’s and 70’s to meditation and personal growth seminars, and then eventually experimenting with more current “biohacking” protocols. 
 
I am soooo grateful for all the awareness I’ve gained and where my personal growth pursuits have brought me!
 
But the truth is, most people who enter the study of personal growth, (more than 90%), find it too hard of a course to sustain and eventually acquiesce to the “pull” of habitual mediocrity.  
 
Truth bomb…, inspiration and positivity only take you so far and can actually become obstacles to success.
 
The result is, most people settle for hoping and wishing for the change they long for, but don’t really believe it can work for them.  They get stuck in the perpetual “dabbler” mode, enjoying inspiration yet remaining confused about what steps to take and lacking the confidence to really go for the dreams in their heart, let alone believe they have the power to achieve them.
 
I’ve been there and it’s not fun.
 
Whether you’re after general, overall improvement in your life, or going for optimal performance, like me, the following distinction may change the game for you…
 
The distinction - Personal growth is the trough of water. Self-leadership is the decision a thirsty horse makes that causes it to drink the water. 
 
“Inspiration without action is merely entertainment.” - Mary Morrissey
  
We all know the importance of taking action. At least we know it intellectually. But how do you get yourself to do what’s required so you can get to where you want to be?
 
So many get paralyzed when it comes to taking action because they don't know how it’s all going to play out, or they don't know the whole pathway to get them to their desired outcome.
 
For me, implementing the awareness I’ve gained from personal growth has required self-leadership.  That means, it’s taken the willingness for me to decide for what I really want by taking a step without knowing how it’s all going to work out.
 
Self leadership activates awareness. It’s a way of thinking that is independent of the circumstances and “facts” of our life.
 
What I mean by “facts” is the things we face that seem to be obstacles in our path:  from challenging health conditions, to not enough money, or not enough time, etc.
 
Here’s how you easily activate awareness and lead yourself to being the person living the version of life you DO imagine:
 
It doesn't require grand, sweeping change. Great accomplishments are achieved with small incremental steps. Think on the micro scale.
 
After you’ve identified what you DO want, with detail and clarity, imagining yourself IN the result you want,
 
Ask yourself one or all of these questions:
 

• “If I didn't believe my dream was impossible or unrealistic or ‘never going to happen’, what would I be willing to do?”

 

• “What's a step I CAN take, in the next 5 minutes, that would move me in the direction of what I want?”

 

• “Is there something I can stop doing that would allow me to be more in alignment with what I really want?”

 

• “What's one baby step I could take today, to be the person who is living my dream? 

Once you have your question:
 

• Give yourself at least three minutes. Write down any and all ideas that occur to you.

 

• From that list, pick the 1 to 3 ideas that resonate most, (or scare you most).

 

• Give these ideas significance and “weight” by placing them in your calendar.

 

• Then do the do.  (And keep your eyes open for “evidence” of things beginning to move.)

 
It comes down to daily practices.  Are you leading yourself daily to be the person who is endeavoring to live the life you're imagining? Or not?
 
Baby steps are within reach for every one of us. The change you want is in your hands. You’ve got this!

Cynthia is a Certified Life Mastery Consultant and best selling author. Connect with her via email: [email protected]