When was the last time you took a breath?
I don’t mean a rapid inhale so you can keep running at this frantic pace you call life.
When was the last time you actually sat down in silence, no distractions, no “trying to remember what you’re supposed to do next,” and you let out that breath that you’ve been holding for as long as you can remember?
When was the last time you closed your eyes, rested your head back on your chair, and took 10 seconds to slowly, deeply, inhale?
It’s been a while, right?
Let’s go one step further.
Why are you holding your breath in the first place?
(Gulp.)
What does holding your breath actually protect you from?
What do you fear happening to you if you exhale?
Holding Your Breath Holds Up Your Walls
Do you believe that any change in your breathing will cause the walls inside of you to crumble?
The walls that hold you together, that allow you to look like you have it all together on the outside.
Because I mean, let’s be honest, you are a freaking rock-solid force of nature.
You handle everything.
People look at you with amazement regarding how you handle work, family, and life.
You smile at their compliments on the outside but on the inside . . . you tremble.
Why?
Because what the rest of the world doesn’t know and couldn’t possibly fathom, is that you are one breath away from your world falling apart.
Yes, you.
This strong, brilliant, amazing woman; you’re terrified.
Terrified of what?
Your job security (or lack thereof) in the company you have dedicated your life to.
On the outside, everyone sees the promotions you have earned, the senior leadership position you hold, and they think you have it all.
What they don’t know is that you have a problem you simply cannot solve, and that problem consumes you.
Holding Your Breath Because You’re Too Much
At some point, your boss told you that you are just “too much.”
You’re too smart, too capable, too fast to solve problems, too direct in your communication, too tough on underperformers, too ____________ (fill in the blank).
In that one conversation, he completely invalidated what you considered your strongest talents.
Now you are scrambling because you believed those talents were what got you promoted in the past.
The result: each day you are mentally consumed with trying to stay safe by fitting in and yet also trying to stand out.
This is why you are terrified.
This is why you have walls.
This is why you are holding your breath.
But what if I told you that you could breathe again?
What if I told you that not only could you breathe, you could actually live.
Not for your career.
Not to meet the demands of others.
Forget all of that BS.
I mean actually live for you.
What if you could create and live life on your terms?
You can.
It’s not too late.
How do you get started?
First, you breathe.