Can a “partner in health” help put wind under your wings??
Any time I have an inspiration to do something new or daunting, I am beginning to realize that I must humble myself before I can break through to find success.
I must realize that I don’t have the knowledge, skill, bravery that I need and I must ask for help.
Three situations come to mind. The first one is The Posture Project. When I thought about a platform to share information about moving, aging and preforming better, to a larger audience, I was forced to acknowledge that social media was a perfect vehicle. I knew nothing about social media. I knew I was meant to follow my kids and make sure their postings were appropriate and safe. I hate to admit that I delegated this important job to their “cool aunts” as I was too intimidated to learn. So, for this project, I humbled myself and asked for help from my kids and from a Social Media expert (shout out to Cadi Jordan at Jordan Consulting). I could not pretend to know any of it. Slowly, over the first year, I warmed up to an online presence, found it not so scary or dangerous and realized that a tip I put on my office bulletin board that 30 people saw, could now be seen by 300, 3000! I also reached out to a treasured friend to help me learn Power Point, and put together presentations I was truly proud of – again, instead of speaking one on one, I could now speak 1 on 100.
The second situation that comes to mind is my decision to join the Ride to End Cancer this year. Although I am pretty active, I have not spent too much time on a bike since my commuting days in University. To commit to riding 200kms in 2 days required more humble berry pie. Forced to ask for instruction on changing a tire (thanks Rob for being so patient), forced to ask strangers at a gas station how to put air in the tire, forced to ride around a cul-de-sac like a 5-year-old to learn how to “clip” in and out, and be OK to look a fool knowing full well I would topple a few times learning. I have been stretched and it is good. We are well on our way!
Most recently, I was presenting at a Wellness Retreat. Although I was there as a presenter, I must humble myself to realize that I am not there as an expert – only someone who has come this far on her journey. I hope that by continuing to learn and seize moments to be a student, a presentation of mine in 5 years is evolved and offers even more wisdom that cannot be learned if I live safely within my boundaries of what I am already good and accomplished at.
Are there any areas of your life that you are resisting because you fear looking incompetent or silly? Find the people to ask, the ones who will put wind under your new wings. It is fun to start flapping your wings and yes, there will always be people who fly faster or more gracefully but that doesn’t matter – it is a new view for you, one you have never seen before and that view is so awe inspiring and rewarding.
(And like Tim McGraw says, “When you get to where you’re going, don’t forget to turn back around, help the next one in line, always be humble and kind.”)
Fantastic…good read this morning. thank you for being the wind under my wings over the years.