Focus on Specifics to Defuse Your Inner Naysayer 

 Your inner naysayer thrives on the unknown. When things are ambiguous or uncertain, fear can set in. It’s only natural and is part of the human condition. That voice inside your head that’s trying desperately to keep you safe will see the unknown as a threat. That’s when you’ll start to experience a flood of negative self-talk. One sure way to combat these negative messages is by having a plan. Focus on specifics to defuse your inner naysayer. Let me show you how.

 Know the Details

 When you start to recognize your inner naysayer rearing its pesky head, it’s a good idea to see if you can start putting together some details. This can alleviate some of the anxiety you’re feeling. For instance, if you’re worried about applying for a promotion at work, you’ll want to start making a list of your unique qualifications. You’ll need this information in order to ace the interview, anyway. Gathering it now will push you forward and give you the confidence to apply. With these details, you can counter the negative messages your inner critic is sending.

 Make a Plan

 Once you have some of the details and evidence together to help hush your inner naysayer, you can begin to formulate a plan to move you forward. To stay with the last example, strategize for a potential interview. Make sure your resume is up to date and that it looks professional. Prepare for potential questions you could be asked. Pull together a stellar reference list. Ask questions of any insiders you might know who could provide you some insight into what the interview will be like. Add anything you can think of to solidify your plan. Your inner critic can’t really argue with someone who has a strategy in place.

 Write a List

 Sometimes your inner naysayer’s voice can be incredibly loud. You might be feeling too overwhelmed and defeated to gather all the details and make a fully formulated plan. That’s okay. Even a small step can help you to at least quiet your inner critic. This can buy you some time and create some breathing room for formulating a plan later. Just writing a list of things that go against the messages your naysayer is telling you might help. Perhaps jotting down just three things that qualify you for the promotion can boost your confidence enough to consider applying for the job.  

 These tips can help you to get a handle on your inner naysayer. Just taking a few small actions is often enough to provide you with a more realistic view of the situation. Give this approach a shot next time you’re feeling pressure from your inner critic...or those naysayers that feed your inner critic.

I feel so blessed that others have been inspired by my story, and often when I am speaking to groups or within my online coaching membership, someone will later come up to me and ask, "how is it you didn't give up?"

Many people have heard me speak using the analogy of the pendulum of a grandfather clock swinging back and forth...for some people, they hear messages of "you can't" or "you're not good enough" and allow that swing to stop them in their tracks...they give up because they believe the naysayers and then the negative self-talk that takes up residence in their minds.

For some, the pendulum just stands still...life just goes on by without taking action; they feel resolute that this is just how life is going to be for them whether it's stagnant or ordinary.

Then there are the others, like me, that have that pendulum swing completely in the other direction. We find the momentum to keep on keeping on...we make a commitment to ourselves to "prove the naysayers wrong."  I have lived in that swing for years!

Over the years, I've made my commitment to share my story so that others will understand that if  I can overcome the obstacles, then so can they.

As I edit my memoir about the life lessons I've learned while on my spiritual pilgrimages and relate these lessons to particular personal events, pains, and circumstances of my life, I'm feeling even more blessed.

Has life always turned out how I've planned or expected it to turn out...hell no! But, I've learned, grown, and developed into the woman I've needed most of my life...

...I've nurtured my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
...I've learned the strategies, techniques, and researched-based practices that have allowed me to connect my heart, mind, body, and spirit.
...I've healed from the past traumas, reevaluated outdated belief systems, and learned to rely on my personal powers of faith, wisdom, love, will, understanding, zeal, and more.

Listening to God Whispers has allowed me to live my life in an intentional way...in my monthly online program, we call it Designing an Intentional Life...and that's what I've been teaching others for years...I've had students from all walks of life...many have believed their lives were at a dead-end...but with my membership, A Pilgrimage to Self, they quickly learn that they are at a Crossroads...and they unravel their own lives in such a way that they can Design an Intentional Life for themselves...on their own terms!

Well, with this pandemic, we've all felt some uncertainty in our lives.

As a world traveler, I find myself questioning when and if I'll be able to continue my adventures and pilgrimages. I'm frightened of the prospect of moving too quickly into opening schools and businesses, especially opening with the idea of business as usual. And like a lot of other people, I'm feeling a bit of quarantine fatigue.

So, I find myself grateful for the PATHS I've created for my coaching membership...I walk them myself. My program follows the philosophy of the Indian Proverb A House With Four Rooms, and the PATHS allow me to design routines and habits that nurture every area of my life. I find myself comforted, centered, and in charge...I'm living my Intentional Life with clarity, purpose, and direction.

Taking my coaching program online was scary, yet, I'm feeling honored and blessed to help other women find clarity, purpose, and direction in their lives with the monthly masterclasses on various topics, interviews with lifestyle experts, and practical, inspirational, and spiritual guidance provided in ebooks, workbooks, exercises, and Q &A sessions.

It's wonderful to have such an encouraging and supportive community...and to see the impact on these women's lives...Donna went back to school after raising her grandsons and is now working her dream job, Jean is on a health journey and has already lost 60 lbs., while Jane is awakening to her authentic self after ending a long marriage. These women are experiencing the joys of living their own Intentional Lives.

My point, make sure you are living your own Intentional Life...we get one life to live, so make it your BEST life.

If you need help finding your purpose and want more information about my program, PM me to see if it's the right fit for you...if it is, you can get started right away with the first month: masterclasses in Self-Awareness, Goal Setting, Gratitude, and the Design an Intentional Life workbook to discover your purpose.

 Remember, know the details, make a plan, and write your list...quiet the inner naysayer...get control of your life and benefit from the clarity, purpose, and direction.

Until next time...

Lisa

 P.S. A Pilgrimage to Self Lifestyle Coaching Membership is your resource for discovering your purpose, designing your Intentional Life, and developing the action steps to make it happen. When Covid-19 started, we created a special BOGO for the monthly plan, and for even additional savings, we created the $1 a day annual option...these offers are still available right NOW!

Register Here for the Annual Plan: I'm worth $1 a day to create my Intentional Life

Register Here for the BOGO...buy the first month and get the second month FREE: Get started NOW with the BOGO Offer