Leadership Magazines Issue 22 - Gary & Kari Sammons | Page 48

Leader FEATURE ARTICLE Ryan & Jenyce Harris Diamonds You asked, they answered. We took your most pressing questions about the business and asked some of our top dōTERRA leaders for their advice from their years of experience. How do you get past blocks and deal with self-doubt? Allow us to share a perspective that has greatly shifted the way we view ourselves. We believe that there is a force greater than ourselves that perfectly created this world and everything in it, including us. We choose to reference this creative force as God. If we are products of this creative force, then inherent in each of us is one of the most powerful forces that exists—the power of creation. Quite literally, we cannot choose not to create: all of our choices, decisions, and actions have consequences and create an effect or have influence on the people and things around us. Regardless of our current station or where we may now stand, God’s power dwells or resides in each of us. When self-doubt begins to creep in, we can choose to view ourselves through that frame of reference. Realizing that we not only possess, but that it is impossible to divorce ourselves from this power, how can we doubt our own ability to find solutions to obstacles and create in abundance? Honore de Balzac said, “When you doubt your power, you give power to your doubt.” We all have inner voices inside our heads that tell us we are not good enough, not strong enough, and incapable of doing the things we dream of. We have a choice to either believe in ourselves, or suffer in self-pity and self-doubt. 48 dōTERRA ESSENTIAL LEADERSHIP I SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 Here are some useful tips to push past obstacles: 1. Take Action One of the best tools to boost confidence and decrease self-doubt is to simply take action. When I first started this journey, I had little confidence in myself, but my why was big enough that I was willing to figure it out. As I took action, my confidence increased and my new belief became that anything is possible. 2. Live in the Present Most of the time, feelings of self-doubt are attached to memories of previous failures. Don’t dwell on those moments, as the past does not equal the future unless you live there. Stay in the here and now, and see the opportunities that are in front of you. Remember, failure is a huge part of growth. Staying present is key to being able to focus on the positive. 3. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others Comparison is the thief of joy. It is easy to get lost by looking at what others are creating and comparing yourself to their successes. My experience is that comparison will create feeling of discourage­ ment as we are usually comparing someone else’s strength to our weakness. We each have unique gifts and our journeys will all look different. Embrace you, because you are a badass! 4. Counteract the Negative At times, it may seem as though the negative voices are stronger than the positive ones. Be aware of when this happens and counteract it by reciting empowering affirmations, changing your state with physical activity, or—one of our favorites—seeking gratitude in the moment. Remember, thankfulness lifts you up above your circumstances. 5. Nurture Yourself. It’s easy to get lost in self-doubt when we forget to take care of our own needs. Be sure to stay hydrated with plenty of water throughout the day, get enough sleep, eat healthy, and exercise. Make a list of what brings you joy and be sure to engage in those activities frequently. Take time for personal development. We have learned to take advantage of early morning hours to do this before our kids get up. 6. Connect with Others. While it is important to take time out for self-care, it is just as important to get the support you need from others. Whether this is from friends, family, a professional therapist/coach, or your upline/ crossline, getting reassurance or help from others can make a big difference. Many times just knowing that you are not the only one who gets stuck or has moments of self-doubt can help you shift away from a “Why me?” attitude. How do you schedule out your days, weeks, and months to obtain your goals? It’s all about priorities. Frequently people mention that they need to feel balanced in their lives. I love the book The One Thing, which says, “The act of living a full life by giving time to what matters is a balancing act. Extraordinary results require focused attention and time. Time on one thing means time away from another which makes balance impossible.” Referencing it as balance o ver a period of time versus balance each and every day can be useful. If we strive to attend to all things, then everything gets short-changed. No matter how hard we try, there will always be things not done at the end of the day, week, month, and year. We have learned to go through our week and make sure that family, health, and relationships get scheduled in first. When scheduling business activities, identify what your highest priorities are in moving your business forward and attack those first during your scheduled work hours in order to avoid getting distracted with busy work like organizing your office or scrolling through social media feeds. Make sure that sharing, inviting, following up, enrolling, and supporting are consistently part of your highest priorities. When you’re supposed to be working, work, and when you’re supposed to be playing, play! *Results not typical. Average earnings are less. See dōTERRA Opportunity and Earnings Disclosure Summary on doterra.com. www.doterra.com 49