Self Sabotage or Getting in Your Own Way

“We have met the enemy and he is us” Pogo Cartoon Possum

If you read that quote and thought, “Not me,” then you are in good company- including yours truly. “No way am I undermining myself,” I would have proudly asserted to you just a few short weeks ago. By the way, that sound you hear right now is me laughing out loud. The big drawback about being in your own way is denial – I had no idea the red head blocking the path in front of me, was me!

When I worked in Corporate America as an HR Executive I brought a wealth of HR knowledge and talent to the party but I joked to close friends that my company really hired me as a psychic and didn’t know it. Much of the informatio
I picked up about people and situations that helped me excel at my job was given to me intuitively. My accuracy rate was very high and I learned to trust that inner voice and inner knowing in my daily career decisions.

Fast forward to starting my own business; the one thing I did not consider incorporating into building my company was using my intuitive skills. I relied on all the left brained skills I had acquired over time and intended to use this as the expertise I would offer to the world.

In spite of myself, I succeeded. I mean, I was coaching clients and developing the NEHCC but there was this ongoing and sort of invisible struggle going on between me and my work. I didn’t feel fully connected somehow and I found myself working overtime – designing and redesigning my services searching for the proverbial Holy Grail that would cause it to click and all fall into place.

Then one day, while I was fretting over my state of discontentment with my business, I heard my inner guidance proclaim loud and clear, “use your intuition!” Imagine my surprise and delight at hearing what I thought was finally the answer I’d been looking for. I interpreted that to mea
I should teach other people how to connect to their intuition. And so it did and I do. And believe me, I get great joy from it and yet I can tell you in hindsight that was not the whole message.

“Use your intuition,” I heard again. “Be all of who you are.” I was sure my connection was on the fritz because I swear, I didn’t know (or want to know) what that really meant.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, people starting approaching me and asking if I gave intuitive readings. “Well, yea,” I thought, “but that is my secret.” After all, what self respecting business coach would give readings? What would people think? What about my hard earned professional persona? Most of all, what if people think I am one of those crazy psychics?

“It’s a leap of faith,” I heard. Oh great! One of those leap-and-trust-the-net-is-there kind of life moments. “Yuck!” I sighed out loud. And then I thought, “Well, I do love a challenge.” So I agreed to say “yes” to the next stranger who asked for an intuitive reading.

It happened almost immediately. Suddenly my phone was a-buzz with people who wanted my services. In a matter of weeks my business doubled. I had been afraid that people would run away from the crazy psychic. Just the opposite happened-people were running to me! The feedback has been amazing and I know I am helping people step forward past their fears and blocks.
How ironic that the skill I relied on my entire professional life to propel me successfully forward was the one skill I was ready to dismiss when it came to my own business. Now you know why I am laughing out loud.

So what about you? Where are you getting in your own way? Hedging your bets? Playing it safe?

Call to Actio

My loving challenge to you is to find one place in your life where you are not being true to yourself and what you want and investigate what else might be going on for you.

Make some time just for you. Find a quiet place to “be” and ask “where am I getting in my own way?”

Allow yourself to hear what you’re telling yourself about this part of your life. Does your inner dialogue tell you are too old, too young, or too inexperienced? Where and how are you being your own worst enemy?

Open yourself up and pay attention to what floats into your mind. I promise you there is more going on here than you think. Just by asking the question and remaining open to the possibilities will make room and create a shift.

Let the dance begin!

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved. This article may be printed with the permission of the author, Tara Crawford Roth.