FEAR: Face Everything And Rise
There's a month for everything. October is National Breast cancer awareness month and really should not be outshined by some of the other things celebrated this month.
However, my business is about helping therapists open their private practice despite anxiety and imposter syndrome.
So, October, if you weren't aware, is also National face your fears month. Fear: f** everything and run, or, face everything and rise. Your choice.
Anxiety often is unhelpful in today's world. Anxiety comes from the brain perceiving danger and it doesn't know the difference between real and perceived danger, past, present and future danger, emotional and physical danger. That part of the brain is just a smoke detector. It goes off whether you're really in danger or not.
As you're working on overcoming anxiety and imposter syndrome: I'm not sure I can do this, what if I fail, I don't know how, I'm not ready, etc is coming from the brain perceiving danger... any danger is in the future and I'm 99% sure nothing horrible will happen if your practice doesn't thrive.
Instead of letting the racing thoughts get the best of you, preventing growth and change, try telling yourself something more neutral to positive. If it could be awful, it could be great.
We all get what if's, but it's how we act that matters. Will you let perceived future danger get in the way of your growth and happiness?
I never thought I'd go into private practice. But I finally decided one day that I'd see maybe 5 per week, one per day after work. I was getting burnt out so this may have seemed counter intuitive...why work more when you're already burnt out?
Interestingly, I came home more energized than when I worked only at the hospital I was at. I decided I could see a few more people after work. I still came home happier than only working at the hospital.
If you're feeling the burnout, remember that you only have control over you and your actions. You do not have control over what your boss or CEO/management decide. If you're not feeling appreciated, you have options.
I never thought I'd like private practice. Sitting for an hour is hard, much less hour after hour. Shift your perspective. Maybe what you aren't sure you'd like turns out to be amazing.
If you choose to face everything and rise and open your private practice, a few tips:
1. You don't have to do it alone
2. Breathe and relax the muscles before taking action. A calm body teaches the brain this activity is safe.
3. Most of your fears will not come to pass, and even if they do (like embarrassment), it's an opportunity for growth, so reframe your thoughts and the worst case scenarios with a growth mindset.
Fear doesn't have to prevent you from living a life where you are in charge of your time, clients, pay, etc. Your thoughts are powerful. Choose the ones you want to hold onto wisely. Delete self doubt. You don't need it. Practice what you teach your clients. Take control of your happiness. Private practice, for me, was a freedom I couldn't come back from. Now I help other therapists along this same journey from burnout to freedom.
If facing your fears alone is too much, hiring a coach can:
1. Hold you accountable
2. Provide support/walk with you
3. Help you see things from a different angle
4. Provide tools that will make it easier
5. Help you see what you can't due to fear turning off or down the left brain logic
Schedule your clarity call with me to learn how to start making marketing your business habitual or overcome the anxiety and imposter syndrome keeping you back from having a more successful business! If you still need to a bit more time, take a look around my site.