BUSINESS EMPOWERMENT: Walking in Faith

By Laurel Elders, MCC, CEC

I was at home exercising to a TaeBo video. At the end, Billy Blanks, the lead instructor, shared his core message to “walk by faith, not by sight.” I thought, “Yes!”
 
Ironically, it remained an idea and nothing more for years. I couldn’t grasp how to put it into action.

​Until…
 
I learned that fear opposes faith, and I had a lot to learn about faith.

What is your relationship to faith?
 
I’m not talking about religious faith. Although, the principles equally apply to religion. I’m talking about the faith it takes to grow a business and expand into a calling. 
 
It takes faith in ourselves, the process, the phases, and faith in our clients.
 
In all the years I’ve been a coach, I’ve consistently heard that following a calling feels both exciting and terrifying at the same time. While everyone loves to feel excited, it was the feelings of fear that were blocking success for most people I talked with.
 
How on earth are we supposed to move forward and gain success quickly if we are feeling terrified? In 2005 I grappled with this, and I’m here today, on the other side of fear, to share with you three pearls of wisdom I’ve picked up along my path. My hope is that one of these wisdoms helps illuminate the virtues within you and invites greater ease on your path.
 
To get to your true virtues, let’s first look at the vices.
 
IMPOSTER SYNDROME: 
 
Imposter syndrome is a prevalent symptom of fear. The principle about fear is simple. When you a truth over a fear, the fear will disappear. 
 
The imposter syndrome is a trick of the ego. Fear is a trick of the ego. The ego pulls all the tricks in a desperate attempt to keep us safe. The issue is that the ego's version of life is based on limits and lack.
 
To succeed, we must step out of our ego and into our Essence. In other words, we must step into our truth. Truth is solid. It has no opposite. When the truth is present, fear is quieted. 
 
We can't eliminate the ego, but we can quiet it by standing in our truth. For example:
 
EGO:                                                                         TRUTH of ESSENCE: 
 
You are an imposter.                                              I AM here to support others.
You don’t really have what others have.               I AM a caring, insightful, heart-centered coach.
You are not good enough to charge.                    Everything I offer is VERY valuable.
 
The ego creates weakness and does not reflect the truth of who you are. Stand upon your truth. There is a rock inside of you. Find it. Stand on it.
 
ASSUMPTIONS:
 
Assumptions are a state of mind that breeds more fear. Assumptions consume the stories we tell ourselves for lunch.
 
To succeed, we must become adept at catching assumptions before they grow. Assumptions are like weeds. Pull them when you find them and replace them with the seeds of truth.For examples:
 
ASSUMPTION:                                                                 TRUTHS:
 
People won’t hire me during work hours.                    The people who need me, will make it work.
Networking didn’t work, so it never will.                       I can find, or create the right group.
People must think I’m crazy to follow my calling.        What people think is more about them.
 
Pluck the weed, plant a new seed, then proceed.
 
FAKING IT: 
 
Many people I've talked to have been told, "fake it until you make it." In my experience, this is not possible. What I have seen is an inner shift that takes place moving fear from the driver's seat to the back seat. The shift looks something like: "Oh my gosh, I'm dreading my first networking event. What if I fall on my face?!" to "I'm going to show up and give it my best. I will feel the fear, put it behind me, and I will do it anyway." There is an inner shift from false to true, from illusion to truth. Truth is never fake. Truth is solid.
 
Also, consider this: Anything new is fearful to the ego. Period. Dot. And, thank God you are afraid. It means you are human! Pat yourself on the back because it also means you care. Now give yourself some grace and let yourself off the hook. Fear doesn't mean you don't have what it takes. (Catch the assumption). Fear means that you care.
 
Of course you are afraid! We all feel fear when we do something new. I can't tell you how many people I've talked to that feel terrified of a new job, ripe with "what ifs." Then I check in 6-8 months later, and the fear is old news. This will be true for you, too, when you shift into your truth and operate from there.
 
FROM VICE TO VIRTUE:
 
What do these three vices and virtues have in common?

​They are about stepping into a faith — a faith in your inner goodness and truth. Running a successful business means you become willing. Willing to say yes to the truth within you. Say yes so that your services can elevate the lives of the people who need you.
 
Power leads to fortitude; fortitude elevates confidence, and confidence is a catalyst to your competence.

• Move from fear to faith.
• Cultivate faith in the truth of you.
• Focus on truth, and it will set you free.

---