But the other day I met someone who told me she had taken the leap, and there were people she was leaving behind at work who thought it was a stupid idea.
"What?" I said incredulously (this is my word of the week - use it, it's great!)
"Well," the brave heart said, "there are loads of people who have said they think it's great but I am leaving this amazing job to go and study, so that means I won't be earning a regular income."
"Good," I said, "and you have obviously worked out that you can make it work financially, and it's the best thing for you at this time, and you are thinking of all the extra income you will get when you have that qualification and confidence to live your dream life....so who has come up to you and said it's a stupid idea??" I said, still incredulous.
"Well...er, no one has actually said it, but they haven't congratulated me and I just know they think it."
Oh.
Firstly, when you think you know what someone else thinks (I don't care how well you know them) - you don't know! That is your thought that you have to think to imagine someone else is thinking it - make sense?
Thinking someone believes that leaving your job is a stupid idea has come from your fears. Now, negative emotions or beliefs or decisions made at an unconscious level are there for good intentions, so don't go getting all angry at yourself for having them. In this instance, the decision had already been made, so the unconscious belief which presented itself as a thought in someone else's head (much easier to digest if it's them not you right?) is there to protect you, to remind you to make sure you have a plan in place.
BUT, if that thought is keeping you where you are, in a job you don't want to be in, dreaming of a life you do want, feeling frustrated, angry, or sad, then you are giving in to fear and buying into a limitation that is holding you back. By the way, if someone actually does voice to you that 'it's a stupid idea', simply thank them for their feedback.
Feedback is not always about you and is certainly not as negative as you might first believe...this could be their desire/their fear, or it could be born from love - they want to make sure you are going to be OK and you've thought it through. It's worth deciding what their feedback is all about, don't spend too long on it, but once you have decided what works for you, then move on. If you think it is from a place of their fear and is tapping into yours simply say DELETE, DELETE, DELETE.
If you are worrying about what other people think, you are thinking it... won't it be better when you focus on you, on what you really want, on the positives in your day, in every bit of feedback you can be grateful for, and in all the resources you have to go for what you want today.
And if someone does voice what you think they're thinking, you can deal with that then, and be in a much more positive and resourceful state.
Be brave, be beautiful.