Limiting beliefs: we’ve all got ’em. And this might just be the most COMMON one I see with women in creative business that are already successful – and on track to uplevel again. These women are often a bit afraid of what comes next, because they have a limiting belief that expansion always leads to exhaustion.
If this is you, don’t worry. I totally get it! It’s easy to look around at everything you’ve built, to feel immense pride, and at the same time to start running the numbers in your head. How long did it take you to build this? How much time, energy and weekend fun time did you invest to get here? How much more do you have left to give? Suddenly, you feel too tired to even consider expanding any further. You want a fuckin’ nap.
When you feel like it takes everything you’ve got just to stay on the hamster wheel, it’s hard to think about expansion. You’re afraid of overextending yourself – so you swing a bit too far in the opposite direction, avoiding any opportunity for growth (this piece happens subconsciously much of the time).
Expansion does not need to always be paired with exhaustion. That’s one bullshit limiting belief. And it’s really convincing, because many of us DO feel exhausted.
In fact, if you are holding tight to this idea it’s probably a strong indicator that it’s time for you to do the deep work of personal development – because it often comes from a lack of personal boundaries, energy leakage and lack of respect for self.
It’s totally okay if this is where you’re at right now – but listen up, because I don’t want you to be stuck here for too long.
This feeling of overwhelm and spinning wheels is not your new norm.
It’s a message from your subconscious to actually slow down, re-evaluate, and tweak your processes and mindset to feel more nourishing. It’s a chance to step back from reactionary responses and sink into your restorative mind. You know the one I’m talking about – the quiet, still place that you usually ignore in favor of to do lists or Netflix binges while you’re putting in hours on your creative biz.
At the end of the day, when you run a creative business, you’re the one in charge of your experience. And the fact that past seasons have resulted in exhaustion does not mean that your next season must. In fact, just on the other side of this limiting belief that growth = exhaustion is a much more empowering perspective: my stillness facilitates expansion.
As we shift out of the hustle mindset and into a leadership based one, we’re often challenged to replace activity with stillness. Of course, you’ll still be working – and it may feel like your days are busier than ever. But what sets you apart as a leader in your business and your industry is not necessarily the action you’re taking every day, but your ability to be with the growth that’s coming to you. Your ability to witness and persevere, continue to show up, and choosing to enjoy the process.
Because I know you know this – but I’ll say it again. Choosing to be a leader should be about YOU committing to being the best version of yourself – not just a slapdash choice made to support others. You’ll learn how to truly support them by starting with truly supporting you. – limiting beliefs and all.
What now? Take stock of your own limiting beliefs, and let me know if this is one of yours in the comments below!
