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It’s so easy to get caught up in what we think we ought to do that we don’t get around to doing what we really want to do. Although I had never seen the above quote and had not even heard of Mr. Czerepak before checking out a friend’s Facebook wall last week, the quote is the reason why I started my blogcast earlier this year. Let me elaborate below.
All throughout 2012 I had steadily worked on my acting pursuits. I had even created a comprehensive color-coded action plan in October. I was amped. My intention was to commit to this plan as my priority for the next 6 months. I felt like I was on track with my actions. I had studied for a few months at my favorite improv acting school and the next logical step was to get into this school’s two year advanced training program. I would go through the program and end up leaps and bounds closer to actualizing my specific acting goal. But then a hearty wrench was thrown into the plans. I auditioned for the training program, but I didn’t get in. On top of that, the artistic director’s criteria for what I needed to do in order to re-audition didn’t sit well with me at all. Great. Now what? Plan thwarted.
After spending a few days perplexed and disappointed, I consulted with my accountability group. We meet regularly to discuss goals, intentions, finances and visions. I shared the news about the audition with them and requested that we focus this particular meeting on creating milestones for 2013 based on the other aspects of my stellar action plan. But then they asked me the million dollar question: “Valerie, what do you really want to do right now?” Well, wouldn’t you know that the first thing out of my mouth was not acting? Curious. That kind of surprised me, though deep down I really wasn’t all that surprised. In retrospect, not getting in to the training program was actually a blessing in disguise. Instead of charging full speed ahead with the “next logical step”, I was forced to pause and to realize that what I actually wanted to do right now was not go through the training program. Hmm.
In follow up to the million dollar question, my accountability group also asked me to list all the things that come easily to me and to list what I really really like doing. Again, the first thing that came to mind was not acting. What I actually live, breathe, eat and sleep are transformational development, writing, public speaking and dance. I’m an avid student of and thinker about thought processes, spirituality and what makes life “work.” In answer to my accountability group’s second question, I enjoy using my voice, literally and figuratively, to inspire and uplift, to help others shift perspectives around problem areas and, as a result, to live evolved and fulfilling personal and professional lives.
I have not given up on acting (don't get me wrong I still do enjoy it quite a bit), but it was clear that something needed to shift for now. It was time to step away from my robust action plan. It was time to re-center and re-focus. And that’s how this blogcast was born. The idea was incepted early January 2013 and by January 18th I had published my first post and recording. Is this blogcast perfect? By no means. For example, I currently have no way for readers/listeners to download my recordings from this site. I haven’t decided on a final blogcast title. And my domain name MusingsFromValerie.weebly.com is a temporary placeholder. I have no idea about these things just yet. But do I care? Not right now.
One of my past challenges is doing so much research to get things close to perfection that I delay myself from even starting. A former version of me might have felt the need to decide on the best name first, purchased that domain name and then started posting. Actually before starting to post I might have had to find the best blog platform: Wordpress, Tumblr, Blogger? After deciding this crucial piece of information then I might have started posting. But wait, I might have needed to create a plan for how I would significantly grow my readership. After having that action plan in place then I might have felt ready to start posting. Do you see my point here?
The truth is I just don’t have the time to learn another platform, I’m perfectly fine with the title of the blog for now and I have a simple enough “plan” (if you could even call it that) for getting the message of this blogcast in front of eyeballs. My actions around this blogcast have all stemmed from heart-centered movement and intuition. It was just too important for me to ride the wave that sparked this blogcast and to get into CIA, Consistent Inspired Action. Business coach for actors Dallas Travers has said many times, “Don’t get it perfect, just get it going.” And that’s what I’ve done here. And I’m proud of the outcome.
Now it’s your turn.
Are you in a doubtful or uncertain situation? Did something you thought would most surely pan out fall flat? After taking the necessary time to grieve and feel the disappointment, get in touch with what rings true for you as the next step. Not what you think should be next, but what is actually next? When you relax into this question, what naturally comes to the surface? You might have to meditate on this for a few days, weeks or months even. But you’ll know what needs to happen next because it will be so evident that you’ll be catapulted into CIA. It’ll be as if a dam has busted and you can’t stop the stampeding water. This is the path that awakens your heart.
I don’t know where this blogcast will lead. What I do know is that I love showing up for it regularly. What I do know is that I love capturing the seeds of new ideas that grow into future posts. What I do know is that this blogcast feeds my soul. In the grand scheme of things what I don’t know doesn’t matter very much. This I don’t doubt. I’ll tell you, this path that I’m on right now has definitely awakened my heart.
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