How to show up and show out (even when you don’t feel like it)

Do you have a great idea you've been wanting to accomplish, but you just can't seem to get started?

You know that course, video, article, or podcast you've been itching to create, but have declared every excuse as to why you haven't?

You're not the only one. Many of us battle to balance our creative desires against the act of actually showing up and doing the work.

I remember the day I shared my idea of my virtual event with a few colleagues. One of them asked, "Are you sure?" That simple question created so much self-doubt around the thing I was so excited about producing.

Sometimes, it's a voice in our head saying you're not good enough or that no one will listen. I have spent a great deal of time studying what causes people like you and me to become unwilling to do the work. I have found that fear, doubt, and the desire for quick results are often the biggest culprits for not following through.

Roadblock: Fear

I've had plenty of fears and doubts throughout my entrepreneurial journey. In 2016, when I started Becoming Jai, I

told myself, "No one will ever work with a health and wellness coach that is still overweight." And the truth of the matter is, when I originally shared the idea to a few of my friends, they didn't express strong enough confidence in my plan.

In all honesty, Becoming Jai and Get Fit With Jai almost didn't happen. I thought, "I know nothing about optimal health and wellness because I haven't even obtained it myself." I thought I couldn't compete in an oversaturated market and feared I would look like a fraud. In truth, these were all lies I told myself. And unfortunately, I believed some of them for quite some time. Sound familiar?

The reality is that we all have overcome and accomplished much more than we realize. Sometimes, some solid advice and reminders of how resilient we are can help push us toward completion.

Tip #1 CHANGE HOW YOU VIEW FEAR AND MOVE WHEN IT CREEPS IN Fear is the enemy of success. The primary function of fear is to keep you from taking risks and trying new things. It's your body's biological response to discomfort. It's a survival mechanism. At the same time, fear can be a tool used for good. Fear guides us on what we have to do. The more significant your impact, the more you'll find yourself outside of your comfort zone. The greater the fear we have surrounding something we have been called to do provides a deeper confirmation that we are on the right path.

When you feel doubt, lean into it and dive into its source. It means you're heading in the right direction.

Tip #2 Surround Yourself With Fear Fighters

Taking advice from friends can be both a blessing and a curse. When it comes to making a move on your next big idea, take a note from those who've gone forth and overcame their fears. Look to your peer groups, masterminds, and coaches who have their finger on the pulse of what you're looking to achieve. Surrounding yourself with others who've ventured down unfamiliar paths can serve as inspiration and motivation.

Tip #3 Celebrate the small wins along with the big.

Creating a success journal is something your future self will appreciate. When we are challenged by fear, we tend to forget all the things we overcome from the past that once terrified us. Remember when you drove a car for the first time or had your first significant public speaking experience? While they might have seemed impossible or daunting at first, looking back, they were setting the stage for much bigger success. Use the little wins to help push past the fear.

Overcoming fear and doubt isn't the only factor that keeps us from showing up. There's another major factor in why we fail to create - we desire instant success. To make our ideas come to life, we must not only be willing to deal with our fear and doubt but be willing to do the hard work.

Who doesn't love a good success story? We get encouraged and inspired by what we hear or see. The problem is that most of these "stories" are not as they appear. What lies behind that inspiring success story is usually several years of hard work. Hundreds of setbacks, trials, and failures are the reality of almost every successful entrepreneur.

To show up and show out, we must be willing to do the work. Here are two of my favorite fast action tips to help you move from stuck to showing up:

action #1 Take a look into the future

Not being able to see the outcome of the work we are creating is a major block that keeps most from taking action to create.

When thinking about your next big idea ask yourself these key questions:  What will be gained if I show up?  What will this empower me to do that I have not had the option to do before?  Who will I have the option to affect with my work?

After visiting the above questions, you should see some favorable outcomes from your idea. Record those outcomes and review them every now and again.

action #2 Be aware of the cost

The following stage is to recognize the costs of your idea. Understanding the cost of what it takes to create something impactful is pivotal. Be honest with yourself about the work involved in making your vision come to life. Don't get caught up in thinking you'll be that one overnight success story.

The predominant factor in the cost of making something noteworthy is time. Are you prepared to make the sacrifices needed to create an impact? Don't overlook the rewards in the process. Write out the costs and the benefits, and get comfortable with the output required to build the success you're looking to create. Once you've mastered these exercises, you'll be set up to show up and show out in excellence.

JAI MURPHY is a global leader in the health and fitness industry as the premier Body Positive Health & Wellness Educator. She is using her training as a certified health coach and her degree in health administration, to help women embrace body positivity, and develop a love affair with themselves while achieving their health and wellness goals.

Jai Murphy likes to hang out in Instagram. Follow her @becomingjai

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