I just had to do it.
Last post I promised a follow-up to Why Your Great Big Brain Won’t Run Your Business. The teaser was about how to provide the best service that you can. I was going to tell you all about how accountability really matters more to your clients than high quality.
For ten days I’ve been thinking about how to give you the best information about the best service and do it in the best way possible with the best words and the best ideas… Get the picture? My Inner Perfectionist was driving the bus – INTO THE DITCH.
Well, that really made a hot mess in my head.
And my little bitty brain – the reptilian part that controls my survival instincts – gave my Inner Perfectionist a caffeine I.V. to keep her at it! According to Martha Beck, that toxic combo is my Inner Lizard. Rather than try a brief, inferior recap here, I highly recommend Pam Slim’s article if you want to know more about your Inner Lizard and how it makes you think you are going to end up in van down by the river. Really, click now; it’s excellent… I trust you to come back.
We all have Inner Lizards – and we always will. We’re hard-wired that way. The trick is to learn how to distract and seduce them so that we can really get on with the work we are meant to do.
Thinking about your services and how to best offer them is an absolute petri dish for growing Inner Lizards. I can pretty much guarantee you that the moment you post a page on your website about your services (or even think about posting it), your little bitty lizard brain is going to go crazy:
“No one will pay me.”
“There are too many people doing this already.”
“I’m not ready yet.”
Can’t you just hear your lizard’s voice? Mine sounds a lot like Lucy on the old Peanuts holiday TV cartoons.
So here’s my shortcut version of Life with Lizards: name your lizard (“Hello, Lizard Lucy”) and be nice to it. Acknowledge it. Recognize it. Do something to make it feel special. I like to greet it, thank it for showing up, and just excuse myself to get on with my real work. You might feel like petting it a little or feeding it an Oreo (the lizard, not you).
Just don’t try to exterminate it; that’s a losing battle and ultimately undesirable. Because those lizards are in fact one of our secret intuitive weapons. They often show up when we’re on the verge of joy or power or something remarkable. Have you noticed that?
Now you can do the best job possible. I promise. (Thanks, Lucy.)
Photo credit: with all due respect, sam
I’d love to know how your lizard shows up and what your strategies are for easing its grip. What clues does your lizard bear?
Related posts:
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the idea of the Inner Lizard! I think everyone has them, chirping in at the backs of their minds, telling them to listen to negative thoughts. For me, focusing on the positive and doing my best to live in the present moment really helps me to stay focused and motivated. Great post!
Positively Present’s last blog post..the power of adversity: a book review
Pos: Everyone definitely has them if their left brain is still functioning. I like having a left brain so I’m learning to happily co-exist as it sounds like you are, too.
I am a intuitive people and event photographer who gets these anxious, lizard-y feelings exactly at the point when I am working on the projects that grow my business. (My Lizard and I are old friends!) When I start hearing my Lizard, I read affirmations to address the need for perfectionism, and tap on EFT points to help defuse the feelings of physical anxiety. It also helps me to lift some weights or lift my spirits with a great song.
Your photos are gorgeous, Dorothy. Everybody go click on Dorothy’s name! Would you mind sharing some of your affirmations? I would love to have them for “Lucy.”
Thanks for your comment.
When I feel “work should be hard” or other negative messages from my past, I choose to focus on affirmations that deal with self-love and self-reassurance.
I love myself for who I am.
My inner vision is always clear and focused.
I have everything I need right now to accomplish everything I want.
The Universe supports my every effort.
Attracting abundance is simple, fun and easy.
I appreciate your compliments on my work. I “came out” and embraced my intuition this year, and it’s been the most freeing step in my life to date.
Dorothy – Thanks for sharing those and your story. I’m inspired. I love your vision affirmation, especially given your work.
Laurie Foley’s last blog post..Why Your Little Bitty Brain Will Try to Wreck Your Business
Your article came at just the right time! I’m currently working on my first speech in Toastmasters, a group that supports developing public speaking skills in a friendly environment. It’s called the ice-breaker and it’s four to six minutes on topic you would think would be the easiest subject to speak about: Introducing yourself. Hah!
When I finally got the speech written I practiced it in front of a camera and I hated it!!! I started writing a totally different speech and got really stuck. I felt myself going DOWN, hearing the voices: “I can’t do this!” “I suck!” and “What was I thinking!”
Then I read your article! Thank you for writing it in perfect time. Thank you for the reminder! I’ve now taken my lizzard, who I’ve named Fluffy, out of the drivers seat of the van! Silly lizard, what was she doing there anyway!
I went for a walk in a beautiful park, practiced some positive affirmations, and relaxed. I felt ideas for the speech flowing to me instead of trying to force them out of my head.
Thank you again!
Mary Ellen
Mary Ellen – You’re a star! I love Fluffy already – what a great lizard name. LOVE that you felt the speech flowing to you – that is peak intuition in my book. Will you please let me know how fab the speech was after you give it? Your comment just got my day off to a great start – thank you!
Laurie – Love this post! Also, your Intuitioneering Tuesday from last week was right on the mark for me. Looking forward to more!
Hi Jessica – Thanks for commenting and listening. I learned lots from Linda, too. Those calls are lots of fun for me and it’s great to know that they are for others, too.
Laurie Foley’s last blog post..Why Your Little Bitty Brain Will Try to Wreck Your Business
Update on the speech.(See my previous comment) I did it! I gave the speech tonight and all I can keep saying is “I did it!!!!” It’s the weirdest thing…I’m an introvert by nature and by nuture… I’m not totally sure why I want to be part of a public speaking group…but my body compass is saying this is a North Star moment!
Wooo hooooo for you, Mary Ellen! I have a hunch that you made Fluffy proud, too. You’re a doll for letting me know how this went. I definitely got the tingle when I read it. Thank you!