Let me set the scenario:

You are working that 9 to 5 and reasonably enjoy it but believe that there is something else that you should be doing, to make use of your special gifts. You are multi-talented, and while one side of you is fulfilled at the job, the other side of you feels neglected…dormant.

The truth is, you have all of these ideas that you’ve conjured up for years. You hold onto these untapped dreams. And then finally…

The light bulb goes off and BAM!

You know exactly what you want to do. With every ounce of your being, you commit yourself to just do it. You finagled the complicated but workable life of keeping a full-time job while pursuing other personal dreams. You even scrounged up the financial resources to start putting those dreams into action. Things are going….until you reach That Hump.

*quick interlude while I listen to one of my fave songs by Miss Erykah Badu*

You know That Hump that I write about. It might not be Erykah’s or mine- but you KNOW. And rarely, are two humps identical. Although they differ in source, the result is the same- you start to doubt yourself, regret your decisions and fear the outcome.

Here are five quick ways to relieve the stress caused by the inevitable hump and how to get over it:

visualize your success

Give yourself the credit that you deserve. Obviously you took on this great task because, at some point, you thought it was feasible. Keep in mind, feasibility does not equate with being easy or challenge-free. It simply means that, at some point in a more-grounded, less-emotional, mind state, you thought that you could do this, and you still can. Real visionaries are forward-looking people. It’s so easy to get caught in the daily grind of life that we can forget to look ahead. Looking ahead not only encompasses planning for the future, but it also means visualizing it. Set aside all of your worries, and visualize the successful YOU; visualize the YOU that did it. How does it feel?

trade complaints for prayer

Our natural human tendency is to complain in the face of a challenge, or temporary defeat. Do yourself a favor, and resist it- complaining creates a debilitating condition that paralyzes you, while restricting your ability to see beyond the present. In fact, complaining CREATES stress. Think about it. When you complain, do you feel better or worse afterwards? Exactly, the proof is in the pudding. Next time you have the urge to complain, flip the script and say it in the form of a prayer. The act of prayer leads to a more peaceful mind state. Try it!

create your personal rewards program

Often, when we are working on long-term goals, we focus on long-term results, and long-term rewards. We all know that you cannot get from A to Z without taking critical steps in between. As a result, you probably have an intermediate plan that includes more short-term goals and objectives. But, what about the short-term rewards? You don’t have to wait until your new office is officially opened, or the first corporate client is secured to reward yourself for “in the meantime.” You have to put YOU first, because your plan would be nothing without that key component. Take some time, and map out personal rewards to accompany each of your short term goals….and be creative!

for every negative, focus on the positive

I really don’t think this needs much explanation. I have mentioned before that I keep a gratitude journal- it’s a perfect outlet for positive happenings in my life. Again, a natural tendency is to focus on “what else,” or “what’s left,” or “what’s wrong”- for each of these thoughts, combat it with a positive one.

minimize the clutter

Our environments tend to have a direct reflection on our emotional state and psyche. Take 10 minutes of your day and just clear a space- toss, give away, put away…whatever you need to do. It will make you feel so much better.

Feel free to drop a line to let us know what works for you!