When you have self-doubt about yourself as a doula or as a successful owner of a doula business, I want you to stop and do the following exercise: Part I Think about this question:What would you do in your business and for your clients if you knew you could not fail? All I want you to do first is contemplate this question.
This may be a question that you get really quiet about.
Contemplate it during a meditation.
Go for a walk or do a favorite activity that gets your creative juices really flowing.
Ask yourself this question before you go to bed at night.
Think about the immediate future, then 6 months down the line, then 1 and maybe even 5 years down the line.
Part II When you've received some inspiration, write down your answer.
What does this fail-proof business do? How does a typical day look like? What are you doing? How are you feeling? What do you sound like and what kinds of things do you say? What are your clients like? How much are they paying you? Describe the services you provide.
How do you deliver your expertise? Are you teaching? Speaking? Writing? Mentoring others? What is your biggest dream for the clients you work with? Who can you collaborate with? How is your personal life affected? How is your quality of life and how has your business impacted your personal life? Answer the above questions and keep on going until you've exhausted all the possibilities.
Part III Read what you just wrote.
Can you feel this new you inside yourself? It's there.
And what you've written in Part II is now brewing within you.
Now here's the next challenge: In light of what you wrote in Part II, name some ideas that are even BIGGER! What and who else can you impact with your work? Who will you inspire? And what can you do today to get started? The point of this exercise is to encourage you to jump outside your comfort zone and become you who've just written about.
Becoming an agent of change ONLY begins with your desire to be one.
Once the decision has been made, the next step is to visualize what you want to make happen, and keep your eye on the vision.
You will be challenged...
by others as well as yourself.
What you want to do may not be what others think you should or can do.
Keeping your vision in the forefront of your mind helps you to block out any "noise" that is around you, trying to distract you and keep you from reaching your vision.
With practice, as you continue to hold your vision, you will find resources to help your vision unfold.
And they will often appear serendipitously.
Think BIG about your work and about your business.
You are powerful, and you have a passion that is unfolding.
Instead of allowing your energy to be focused into any shortcomings you may perceive yourself to have, I encourage you to focus your energy on the possibilities and opportunities that await you.
Share what you've written with a fellow colleague, your partner, or a trusted friend.
This can help you be accountable to your dream.
Thinking big may not be something you are used to doing, but I encourage you to try it.
You may be surprised by the inspiration you receive.