If asked, the vast majority of people would agree with the statement “anything is possible.” It’s likely that you believe this. But do you believe this for YOURSELF? It’s likely the answer is “no.” Why is this? To be honest, I don’t know why we tend to be self-doubting, deprecating haters of ourselves. Sadly this is the default mindset for most. It’s a huge undertaking to change this mentality, but a worthy one that pays high dividends.
When I started college, I wanted to be a high school counselor and knew all the steps needed to achieve it. I worked my way through my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, but in the back of my mind I doubted that I would ever actually become a guidance counselor. I started half-heartedly applying to counseling jobs and experienced the most brutal interviews that make me cringe just thinking about them. Afterwards, I would rush home as quickly as possible, curl up in a fetal position and cry my eyes out.
I had all the credentials to do the job and would have been a damn good counselor, but all I could think of was how I didn’t speak enough Spanish, or didn’t have enough experience, or didn’t have enough connections, and so on. I was blinded by all the things I didn’t have and that attitude stood out like a sore thumb to my interviewers. I eventually got a related job, but it was not what I set out to do, nor was it in the setting I had always dreamed of.
“If I had always done what I was 'qualified' to do, I'd be pushing a broom somewhere.”
Naval Ravikant
When I set out to become a yoga teacher, I had learned a lot about the power of mindset and began to tell myself daily, “I am a yoga teacher.” As I repeated this, my actions followed. If I am a yoga teacher, what would a yoga teacher do? Practice and teach yoga! I was far from “qualified” to teach a group class, but I did it anyway and guess what? I survived! In fact, began to thrive, and only got better and braver.
Similarly, I was far from qualified to open a business, especially a yoga studio. In fact, I am still not qualified to be doing most of what I am doing. I am extremely unqualified to write, given that English was my worst subject and still have a vile relationship, with, commas. However, here I am. Writing…teaching…running a business…excitedly dreaming of what else I am not qualified to do because, you can bet your ass, that's exactly what I am going to do next. What are going to do next? It should be exactly what you feel unqualified to do.