How to show up for your dreams like you’re getting paid for it
If you recently started a project or work from home, this is for YOU. At times, finding the balance between a hobby and work can be difficult when you’re starting out. Making that shift in your mind is what will get you to reach your goals.
How hard would you work on your own dreams if you were being paid for it?
When I started my blog I realized I needed to show up for myself, like when I was an employee. Working overtime, trying to prove myself capable to my peers, and sometimes even taking my work home, or kept thinking about it after my shift had ended. I guess I never realized how much action and energy I put into my jobs (like you should), until I started doing something for myself, this blog.
What I mean is... If you're able to wake up on time for your job, work extra hours, why wouldn’t you be able to do it for yourself and your dreams? If you’re able to put so much effort and time into your job, why not show up for yourself just the same.
So how do you show up for yourself to create your dreams, new business or a new hobby?
1. Ask the right questions
Remembering your Why?
Why are you doing it, to begin with? What keeps going on the days you want to give up and feel like there's no progress?
2. Show up for yourself like you’re getting paid for it
In the beginning, not everyone starts off by making all the money, which can be discouraging, so imagine what you would do if you were already making what you want. What is the version of you doing, to get there?
3. Finding inspiration
Read inspiring work; Whenever I feel overwhelmed or not focused, looking for inspirational people helps me get back on track. Books like The seasons of life by Jim Rohn
Keeping my inspiration and consistency to continue gets tough at times, but then I remember the reason why I started to begin with.
4. Set alarms
Setting alarms, as a stay at home mom my best time to work is when everyone is sleeping, and waking up earlier can be difficult, especially when I’d rather stay in bed and get the same amount of sleep like everyone else. Setting alarms to work for at least 20 mins a day or even to stop working is important.
5. Commit to your goals
This is easier said than done.
First, let’s start your top 5 goals in what you’re doing. What is important for you to accomplish daily, weekly and monthly. Life will always throw curveballs at you and no time will ever be the right time to get started.
6. Set up a schedule
Making a schedule is super important because it keeps you on track, if you're an overachiever or like to slack off- it works both ways, to say focus on what is required for you to do daily. For example, on some social media platforms, you can schedule your work to come out at the times you want, instead of having to go on it every day yourself.
7. Work smarter not harder
Personally, I make bulk content, for example on my Instagram. I schedule the days of the week that are for taking the picture, the other for editing, etc. Instead of trying to do it all in one day, I divide my work. Same for my blog posts.
8. Stay motivated
At times, when you're working on yourself or your business it can be easy to want to give up. Staying on track can be simply because there's so much free inspirational content, you can spend 5 mins a day to get into the right mindset to start your day.
9. Follow people in your niche
Instead of comparing yourself to others, look for people who inspire you, if they can do it, so can you!
“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with” - Jim Rohn
This has been said many times but who you surround yourself the most, is what keeps you going, surroundings play a big role in our success.
10. Be kind to yourself
Time is going to pass either way, you may look at your life 10, 20 years from now and only regret not trying or not going for it. In your process, be kind to yourself, you are doing and setting action, intention for your future right now, the only thing that can set you back is to give up.
11. Give yourself a reward
Not everyone might agree with me, but I’m talking about something as simple as getting a pedicure or getting yourself that book you’ve been wanting because you deserve it.
12. Invest in yourself
Just like anything in your life, everything is an investment, from your time to money it doesn't matter, either way, you are investing. Finding the right things to invest can be tricky but you can never go wrong buying books. Or finally, getting the course of the person you’ve been following, making the first step and making it count.
13. Failure can be scary but so can not trying at all
The worst thing than failure is not giving yourself the chance to even try.
Showing up for yourself. What is truly more important to you? If you are willing to give your 100% in a corporate job, why not give it for yourself and your dreams? We might believe that our dreams aren't good enough to be done and rather follow someone else’s but that's not the case for you.
Showing up for yourself as you do for others, if you're currently or have been working on a project, that makes you feel excited about life but are too afraid to pursue it, so you end up sabotaging yourself in the process; by not waking up on time, saying you don't have time, etc..
14. Have fun
Don’t take yourself so seriously, when you do things with love and out of love, it shows! Have fun in your process, don’t be afraid to experiment and express yourself in your own unique way!
15. Believe and love yourself
Someone, somewhere is waiting to be inspired by YOU, by the unique way you explain or do things. With social media we have the advantage of reaching millions of millions of people all over the world. You persisting, means that it will reach the right person, at the right time. If you take anything from all this, Loving yourself through the whole process is the most important thing.
Now, I may not be an expert in all of this, but I speak only from experience. I hope the creative souls reading this feel inspired and take action. I would love to read comments on how you are working to overcome, conquer and continue.
Take time to make your soul happy!
Thank you & until next time,
Mari Laabs