I remember as a child the times that I felt I was running without boundaries, rules or regulations, and just the security of my parents that everything would be just fine. I felt safe. My ego was not comparing my freedom or ability by what other kids did or had. I was just me and that felt good. I could become anything I desired and limits were not a part of my thinking.
Adults are always asking kids what they want to be when they grow up because they are looking for ideas. –PAULA POUNDSTONE
As a child I was not out of control on the contraire I was a good example. As least that is what my parents thought. I was running free and the world was mine. Know that feeling? Do I want to be a doctor, lawyer, fireman, President of the United States, or just work with my dad for the rest of my life? It was my decision and no one else to tell me NO. I was a kid running free.
WHAT KEEPS US FROM RUNNING FREE TODAY?
What do others think of me? Automatically this thinking has limiting and struggling beliefs. It distributes your power to others and you lose control. You lose control of your dreams and the ability to grow as a business person and a healthy human being. The effects are much more than income. It affects your relationships, your self-esteem and others around you. Leading becomes impossible and joy becomes a memory from a time when you thought you were running free.
What does my ego tell me? That I have to prove that I am right and that I must manipulate what others think so I don’t disappoint myself. I lose the ability to grow and ask for help. Why? I am no longer running free but at the mercy of justifying what I do instead of learning a better way of doing it. I stopped being a child and became an adult. Oh for the days of just running free.
Am I good at what I do? Am I leading effectively? Do others suffer because I have stopped asking for help or being open about my desire to grow? These questions are never asked by a child. The answers are simply their way of being. Remember the times when we were curious and always asking a ton of questions? Did a parent ever tell you to stop asking so many questions? Now we are adults and are assumed to have all the answers. What a tragedy that we no longer run free.
How do I know if I am good at what I do? The child never asks that question because he or she just enjoys the life and waits for the next big adventure. The adult compares himself/herself to what others are doing. This is a shallow and crippling thought-process. This behavior is a ceiling to growth. You will never run free if you are comparing yourself to others. Recently an office was rewarded the #1 in the company and everyone felt so good. But what are they comparing themselves too? If 10 other offices are mediocre and you are a bit better then what have you accomplished? You are the Top #1 Producing Office of the Mediocre. Remove the ceiling of your comparing yourself to others and begin to run free without hesitation. Feel good if you must for being #1 but only for a time. Allow you to be the only ceiling you have and then you are running free. You are as powerful as a child running free and the world is yours.
The Conclusion: Remove the fear. Take the step. Become a child and start over by asking questions. Let go of the thought that you have to prove your self-worthiness and stand behind what you have done in the past. Let it go and learn. The child may not be as wise as you but at least he/she is running free.
