Success can be measured in many ways, one of them being how bravely you approach what you have an aversion to. Whether it is initiating a difficult discussion, firing an employee, setting a boundary with a child or starting a diet and exercise routine, we all have our aversions based on our beliefs and experiences.
My recent reluctance was lurking in the shadows for about a week before I could face it. I needed to write a marketing platform for my upcoming book. I am not a marketer and I certainly don’t relish promoting. I am an artist! The language of marketing and research grated against my sensibilities. It was boring, loathsome, and daunting, but I was the one who had to do it.
So what did I do? I employed my highest level of procrastination. I cleaned out my closet, made soup from an untouched recipe in the file for years, watered the garden and pulled weeds, but it was becoming clear that the job was not going to get done by itself. It was time to face my challenge. I didn’t have a clue on how to begin, so I allowed myself to research one topic at a time. Write one sentence. Then write another one. The third was a little easier, and I don’t even remember giving myself encouragement to write the fourth. I cancelled all activities that were planned for that day, and by the late afternoon I had finished. It was the best that I could have done. I felt relief and a sense of accomplishment. And, I hope that I won’t have to write another one for a long, long time!
