In E78 of my Podcast (to listen in, CLICK HERE), the inspiring Danya Douglas Hunt and I sat down to talk about the ways in which we as humans operate, and how to approach life with more fluidity.
As a former Olympic Head Athletic Therapist and Strength & Conditioning coach turned entrepreneur Danya truly understands high performance - in the body, and the mind.
But how can we start to connect this concept of high performance to the subconscious?
I wanted to share some of the insights from my conversation with Danya, with you.
First, you need to understand your starting point - there are two ends of the spectrum, and you will likely feel more aligned to one side (the goal being to find eventual fluidity between the two):
The Observer:
If this is you, you are reflective AF.
The observer spends a lot of time thinking, analyzing and gathering information (or as I like to call it, clarity), but spends little to no time in the process of doing.
Think of them as the “receiver” (of information/ideas/clarity/etc).
The Achiever:
If this is you, you get shit done.
In contrast to the observer, the achiever excels at the doing piece - they are action oriented, complete tasks and get results, but, they take little to no time to reflect during the process.
Think of them as the “giver” (of time/energy/internal resources/etc).
Neither is good nor bad, because both are ineffective on their own.
You’ll often hear me say that action creates clarity; the achiever within us does the action to get the information we need to continue to level up.
BUT.
The clarity we receive helps us determine our next action; the observer within us reflects on the process and determines what is in alignment with the best of us, and what our next step should be.
So now that we have all determined our starting point, what’s next?
DEBUNK THE MYTHS IN YOUR MIND.
UPGRADE YOUR BELIEF SYSTEMS.
You might be thinking, “Woah Charlotte, bit aggressive on the approach there.”
But you guys, this stuff is so important. If so much of what holds us back in life is internal (ie. the beliefs we have, the narrative that plays on repeat in our minds), then why are we not spending more time challenging it.
If you are an observer, list all of your “what if’s”:
What if I fail.
What if I don’t have what it takes.
What if I don’t know what I am doing.
What if I look stupid.
What if ________.
All of the fears that would prevent you from doing the thing.
Reality check: Those “what if's” will never actually happen if you are always wondering what if.
BUT, I will tell you what will happen...
You will never step into the greatness you were meant for.
Because when we operate from a place of fear, we are not showing up as our best self - as a parent, as a family member, as a friend, as a boss, as a colleague, as a human being.
And so you have a choice - keep living in fear of the what if OR lean into that fear, and trust that whatever the outcome, it is as it is intended to be.
BONUS: stepping into action provides you with more information to reflect on!!!!
Here are some great practices to get you started:
Get your sweat on: movement practices that create heat also create an internal fire which amplifies that action oriented energy.
Take baby steps: progress not perfection is the mantra here - breaking those big ideas down into smaller, more achievable steps to get you started.
Create a “To-Do List”: write it ALL out, then get it ALL done - this can be as simple as making your bed in the morning, but being able to see yourself complete action items has a snowball effect.
Find an accountability buddy: we often talk about accountability buddies in the realm of health and fitness - but having someone to support and challenge you in all aspects of your life is a game changer.
Now, on the other hand, if you categorize yourself as an achiever, ask yourself:
Do you equate your achievements with your worth?
Who would you be without the validation of your achievements?
Are you doing this for yourself, or because others expect it of you?
Now, you’ve got some serious shedding to do.
And that is the shedding of other people’s expectations (which have likely inherently become your own).
Reality Check: It is your life - no one else has to live with the outcomes of your actions or decisions.
So, if you continue to live your life based on external expectations, the result will never feel fulfilling (it will never be enough), because it isn’t aligned with what fills YOU up.
So your choice is this - do you want to continue to meet the external world’s expectations and never feel internally fulfilled OR say fuck it, and spend some time becoming clear on what it is you really want.
BONUS: if you spend the time reflecting, the doing becomes more fun!!!!!
Some great practices to try out:
Journal: a great practice is to write three pages first thing when you get up in the morning (a bit of a brain vomit if you will) - just start becoming aware of your thoughts/ideas/internal landscape, and allow them to flow out of you.
Meditate: when we allow ourselves to be quiet, we create space to listen (which is as important in our relationships with others, as it is with ourselves).
Epsom Salt Bath: there is so much about this practice that is healing - but as achievers we have a tendency to give, this is a practice of receiving the benefits of the water/salt/lovely scented candle you put out.
Walk in Nature: by slowing down our constant running around to an easy paced walk, we are already shifting our energy - the benefits of being in nature are unparalleled, a simple google search will show you this.
The moral of the story is this:
Our life is being written in this moment.
What is the narrative you are telling yourself? Is it to the best of you?
If it isn’t, then you have a choice to do better - you have the power to shift the narrative and create a different future for yourself.
Thank you Danya for an incredible conversation!!
Check out E78 HERE