I can do HARD things. And so can YOU!

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to me! Actually, to my clinical psychotherapy practice. Yay!

This past year has been a tremendous space for GROWTH (aka really freaking difficult things) for me. I decided to open up my own psychotherapy practice for a myriad of reasons, many of which are irrelevant to anyone other than me. However, the universal truths in this journey are these: You are never prepared “enough” and doing something new, and most things outside of our comfort zone are typically scary. I so wanted to stay in safe-land as long as I could, until I could no longer ignore that inner voice that was calling me to start my next chapter in life.

How many times have you wanted to do something new, something outside of your skill set, beyond what others have told you is in your capabilities, above what your narrative has told decided you’re capable of doing?

I CAN DO HARD THINGS. I have repeated this to myself (and more recently to my dog, Layla the Wonderdog) countless times over the past year. When I am frustrated with billing issues, or computer issues, or scheduling or getting back with clients promptly while balancing a break to scarf down some edible substance between sessions and and and and….. I continue to remind myself YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS.

Some of this has been enlightening for me, and transformed my own idea of what life is really meant to look like, for me anyway. While I have really wanted to find the easy path for life, I mean who doesn’t, right? Simple has never been my story. Despite this awareness I have long understood for myself, I still clung to the notion that someday things would just be E-A-S-Y! I’d coast through work and home life with little effort and I’d be living on cruise control. Then it dawned on me….I don’t even use cruise control in my car! What if it was never meant to be easy? What if the struggle helps me to appreciate my hard work, and helps me to be more empathetic in others’ journeys?

Hey, if there was an EASY button that actually worked for my life, I still would press it. But with each day that passes, with each milestone I pass without falling apart, I am strengthened by my decisions and more intentional living I am attempting to do each day. So today I am celebrating all the highs and lows that have come with being the CEO of my very own psychotherapy business! Yay! I celebrate the highs/lows equally today as I understand it is in struggle that we grow!

So what are you doing today? Can you make one, small, brave step towards doing something that scares the shit out of you? I’d love to hear about it!