What It Really Looks Like to Do the Work
— EPISODE 25 —
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Do you ever find yourself feeling impatient or feeling like you want success to come to you faster than it is?
Personally, I’ve been rushing my desires lately and it’s gotten me thinking about what it really means to “do the work,” the time it takes, and the problem with quick fixes.
With all the courses and masterminds out there geared towards getting rich quick or growing your business in three simple steps, we’re being distracted from the practices that guide us to true emotional work and create lasting change.
The Problem with Quick Fixes
We live in a world where we’re conditioned to expect things to come quickly to us. We can pretty much get anything delivered to us whenever we want it, which creates a sense that things don’t take time. Think about social media… everything is instantaneous. In reality, the things we actually want in life, like strong relationships, wealth, success in our career, a family, etc., generally take time and consistent effort to build!
When we believe these things come quickly, but they don’t, we may start to believe that something is wrong with us or that we’re not worthy of receiving this abundance.
A quick fix is like eating a bag of chips when your body actually wants a full meal. We know that chips are not deeply nourishing nor do they keep us full for a long time, so why are we relying on quick fixes in so many other areas of our life? Surface-level strategies or reminders may hold us over until we have the space or capacity to do the real work, growth, and healing, but they are not the same. So often, we confuse the two. It’s important to know when we’re reaching for a quick fix as opposed to diving into the work that will create deep, lasting change.
The truth is, growth and healing takes time, energy, commitment, and sometimes planning. That “work” gets to the root issue of why you’re feeling a certain way. The problem with quick fixes is that they don’t get to the root of the issue. They can leave us feeling confused, frustrated, and just as low as we felt before.
When I’m guiding clients and course members through “the work”, I don’t want them to settle for a quick fix. I want them to experience long-lasting, sustainable change. I also want that for myself and for you. Ultimately, you’re the one that gets to choose chips or a full, nourishing meal for yourself.
What does it really mean to “do the work”?
Quick fixes are at one end of the spectrum and doing the work is on the other end. When I say, “doing the work,” I mean doing the work of healing and cultivating mental wellness in your life. For me, the path to healing and strong mental wellness is embracing your unconditional self-worth.
The work doesn’t have to be painful or arduous, but it does require commitment and persistence. Though, uncovering emotional pain is often part of emotional healing and that’s totally normal. Let’s talk about what goes into doing the work.
The Core Factors of “Doing the Work”:
Cultivating self-awareness – Understanding the work you need to do in the first place. This requires reflecting on yourself, your experiences, and your thought/behavior patterns. Step away from social media and stop consuming content, then create space for journaling, meditation, and self-reflection.
Deciding to do something different – You have the power to start treating yourself differently, to let go of toxic patterns, to leave toxic relationships, and to start coping with life’s challenges in healthy ways. Don’t let your fears or anxiety hold you back from making those decisions.
Ongoing commitment – Show up for yourself time and time again, no matter what. This isn’t a quick fix, so have patience during this time because remember, change takes time. Showing up for yourself might look like connecting with that therapist you’ve been considering talking to or enlisting some other type of support or guidance.
Recognizing your progress – This is essential because this will keep you inspired, fulfilled, and driven to keep moving forward. This is also where self-awareness and self-reflection comes back in.
Did this get you thinking about how you want to engage in this work and what that might look like for you?
If you’re interested in getting started on your journey to embracing your unconditional self-worth…
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