Do you suffer from go big or go home disease? A little life update…

“Don’t go big or go home. Go small and stay in the game. Small or big, whatever you do, just don’t go home!”

Before you pull out the pitch fork and demand to know where I’ve been, I think a little life update is in order. As you all know, like the true high priestess of hype that I am, I live my life on a pedestal so much so that I sometimes get dizzy just talking to mere mortals :). Which may explain my tendency to think everybody is dying to hear from me :). So here’s a little recap for you.

I changed job!!!! Yeah. This is a move I’ve been thinking of making for a while now but there was one major roadblock: My own damn self. To be exact, I am blaming my lower self. Yes, I am willing to have split personality if it means carrying less blame:)

Below is a fine example of what was going on in my mind throughout the entire process of changing job. Let me introduce you to two of my best friends, my shoulder angels: Higher Self and Lower Self. Higher Self is the part of me that wants to grow and Lower self is the part of me that talks shit all the time and does nothing. So here we go:

Higher self: “You should change job. I know the people are nice but if you can do better you should push for better. Besides, you’re worth so much more and you can take up so much more. Let’s make a plan and start looking for a better job!”

Me: “You read my mind! I am ready for all the universe has to offer (In true exalted Libra fashion and with the confidence of someone who has absolutely no intention of keeping her promise to her damn herself.)!”

Lower Self: “You can do it! I believe in you! Let’s make a plan!”

Higher self: “We’ll start small. Sending 2 to 5 resumes a week should do the trick. No stress, just putting in the daily action and staying ready. This should be doable so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.”

Lower self: “Are you kidding me? 2 to 5 resumes a week? This is for the weak. I have a better idea: We’ll send (Insert any crazy unattainable number you can think of here) resumes a week!”

Higher Self: “No, let’s start with a number you can keep up with. I suggest…”

Lower Self: “Oh shut up! She’s a warrior, she can do it! Go big or go home! Big hairy goals, that’s what we’re after! No less!”

Me: (Feeling overwhelmed already): “No, I think Higher Self is right though, I mean….”

Lower Self: “Do you want this or not! You need big hairy audacious goals!”

Me: “Oh, ok…well, I suppose if that’s what I really want I have to be willing to make big sacrifices, so I’ll send (Insert any crazy number I have no intention of keeping up with here) of resumes a week, then……”

Lower Self: “That’s what I am talking about: Go big or go home!”

A month passes by and nothing. Nada. No resumes are being sent out. In fact, I even managed to duck a couple of calls from a few well-meaning employment agencies just so I don’t run the risk of having to actually go on an interview. Once gain, Higher self came to the rescue…

Higher Self: “So, about those resumes…”

Me: “Well, I’ve been thinking about it and Lower Self is kind of right. If I can’t go big, what’s the need? I’ ll wait and see if that’s what I really want…..”

Higher Self: “But that’s the thing though: Go big or go home is a scam. Instead why don’t you go small and stay in the game? Overtime it’ll pay off…”

Me: “Yeah, but I prefer to take big actions…I am an all or nothing person…it’s in my nature..(#stufflazypeoplesaynottogetshitdone).”

Higher Self: ” I understand. One quick question before I rest my case: How long are you gonna keep lying to yourself with a face as straight as an ironing board?”

Me: “!!!????

I am an all or nothing person“…I say that a lot when I am not willing to put even the tiniest bit of action behind my goals. It usually go like this: First I would give myself big shiny unattainable goals with big and outrageous actions all planned out. Then I would get scared by my own outrageous goals that I set out for myself, panic, feel inadequate, hyperventilate and do nothing. And then I’d feel like a failure and the vicious circle would start over and over again. We are our worst enemies, I tell you! We truly are.

I am glad I was able to put some action behind what I wanted even when I did not feel like it. In the end everything aligned beautifully and I Thank God for that!

Dear reader, do you or someone you know suffer from Go big or go home mentality? I Would love to hear from you on that!

Bisous and talk soon!

Goal setting for 2019

“Staying the same has now officially become more painful than the actual act of changing:  I am proud to say I have exhausted my options as a loser. “

First of all, I thank God to have made it this far, almost the end of the year. I know I do sound like I am receiving an Oscar but getting to the end of 2018 truly does feel like receiving an Oscar indeed! Actually every day above ground deserves an Oscar:).

I am so excited for 2019, I started compiling a list of things I’d like to be more intentional about.

I know what you’re thinking: It’s not 2019 yet. I know but I just want to start taking a look at what I want to better for the coming year as 2018 draw to a close.

Year 2019: Theme

The theme of the year is ACTION, PROGRESS and TEAM WORK. I know what you’re thinking: My baby is all grown up now (insert tears emoji).

In 2019, I will move in pack. There’s power. Nobody gets left behind!

“Most of the times we plan with the higher self in mind and forget about our lower self-sabotaging self. We have a plan to do but we have no plan for when we refuse to do even after we swear we would do.”

Writing group

The older I get the more I realize the power of accountability, so many things we did growing up we simply owe to our parents being on our back 24/7 double checking on us. There is power in having someone to report to. Someone to makes us do what we want to do.

Barbara Sher said it best: “Isolation is a killer of dream”. Nothing can motivate you more than a group of people who are bent on making it and who refuse to give up on you. I’d like to build a network of people who writes and are even more serious with their writings as I am with mine. There’s a lot of motivation to be had in such groups. There truly is power in numbers. It keeps you motivated, focused and accountable.

Among things that are on my radar: QWF (Quebec writer’s federation) shut up and write sessions. These are intense writing sessions where writers of different levels and at different stages meet and write. I also want to set up other writing sessions with writer friends.which means I need more writer friends.

Progress tracking

I’d like to start tracking my actions/progress. A lot of time I get discouraged thinking I haven’t made any progress at all or very little because I have no record of my progress or actions. I want to change that, I want to be able to have a clear view of what I have accomplished as the year unfolds.

Accountability

Who’s going to make sure I do what I said I am going to do?

Most of the times we plan with the higher self in mind and forget about our lower self-sabotaging self. We have a plan to do but we have no plan for when we refuse to do even after we swear we would do. I suppose that’s what societies have laws : to make sure their citizens do what they swear they’re going to do.

Why am I doing all this? Why all this motivation all of a sudden? What has changed? Don’t get me wrong, changing is still very much painful. It is just that staying the same has now officially become more painful than the actual act of changing. I also feel like I have exhausted my options as a loser. I honestly didn’t think it was possible but yet, here we are. Looking back you’d think I was trying to earn an Oscar. Also I feel like my belief as a writer has somehow solidified a bit more. One thing for sure :I want to do. I want concrete and tangible progress.

Next week I am planning on going into more details wit h tools and other bits of planning I want to add to my arsenal. Gros bisoux and thank you for passing by:)