How many of you feel crippled by niggling thoughts and worries that simply hold you back from putting yourself out there or starting that new project, or simply starting over after adversity?

You’ve probably spent years working in a specific career and then just like that, life changes and you’re either in a new city, AI has destroyed your business, or you feel too old/tired/insecure/etc to start something new.

I’ve recently heard from many of you about having to shift gears, start over in a new town, try a different career path, find yourself after a new baby, and so much more. So right on topic, I’m dedicating this month to helping you embrace change, and start that thing you’ve always been afraid to do. Here are some of my own personal tips I have used that have helped me lean into the fear and go for it anyway!

1) Fear of Failure

You will fail… get it out of the way. (Before you get upset that this is not motivating enough, let me clarify):

• You’ll invest a lot of money for little return… This is discouraging, but build something worthwhile and the returns will follow. Don’t give up too soon. Things of great value take time.

• You’ll only have 1 person show up for your class… if you give this client the best of you, she will absolutely love you and help refer clients to you.

• You may not pass an exam for a course you’ve been studying… You’ll realise where you need to upskill, study and practice more, and then you will try again and pass!

The only way to get over the fear is to face it head on. You will make mistakes, but you will learn from them too.

2) Fear of Feedback

If you’re starting a new project, or offering. Test it out with someone you know and respect.

• Friends and family will enjoy it, and will be inclined to give you positive feedback, but you will have the one sibling or friend that will be brutally honest with you. It may hurt your ego for a bit… but if you can get over yourself for a second, you’ll realise they are helping you.

• Your fellow yoga teacher training peers… if you developed a strong connection with your sangha, test your classes out on them. (If they have come through Hersha Yoga’s trainings, they know how to give the right kind of feedback)

• Finally, you can ask any of your teachers, mentors or even your clients to try something new.

Don’t try to defend constructive criticism. If you take feedback too personally and then crumble too easily for not being perfect… that’s something else you need to unpack. (Come to sangha maybe so we can unpack it). The feedback gives you a clear answer as to what people are looking for. If you can help people reach whatever it is they are looking for in your workshop, you’ve hit gold!

Take it one step further and teach the same sample workshop to them again and again until they love it. Not only will you hone your trade, you can ask for testimonials and referrals.

3) Fear of Comparison

Everyone and their sister is a yoga teacher these days. It’s a saturated market. Some teachers are very knowledgable, some are very flexible, some are skinny and beautiful, some are outgoing, and more. It can be very easy to tell yourself, “I haven’t practiced every single day, so I’m not good enough,” or “I am not as knowledgable as [insert name], so how can I market myself next to them.”

That gets you no where.

Dig deep. Who are you? What do you bring to the table that no one else does? What is your individual value? What skills do you have? How can your life story help others on their path?

Try journaling this all out. If you took my teacher training, you should have that sheet of paper that lists all the wonderful things about you that your peers wrote about you at the end of the TT. Refer to that for some inspiration.

4) Fear of Putting Yourself Out There

The haters gonna hate hate hate. Expect that some people will love your class, energy and content, and others will unsubscribe from your mailing list. If you don’t share your talents with the world, how will anyone know who or where you are? How will they find you?

If you are introverted and feel shy or embarrassed to make it about you… then shift your focus away from your ego/personality. Instead share how you will solve problems for the people who come to you. Why do people come to you? What do they get from the sessions?

5) What if it’s not perfect?

Done is better than perfect! Done is better than perfect! Done is better than perfect!

Same with your sadhana.

Same with your first blog post.

Same with your first workshop.

A little every day goes a long long way. (More on this in my next post).

Sending you love, hugs and a lot of encouragement. You have what it takes to shine. You can do this! I’ll be your biggest cheerleader and will help you every step of the way if you need it!

(Come to sangha!)

HERSHA YOGA SANGHA MEET

February 20th at 7:00pm (Hong Kong Time - GMT+8hrs)
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