Conquering the Mission Holding Me Back

posted 29th September 2011    Written by: Dusti    CATEGORY: All Posts, Creativity, Dusti, Quarterlife Crisis

I’ve been grappling with writing this stupid manifesto for months now. I’ve known it’s needed written since May. I’m really excited to write it and share it with the world! But somehow, it keeps getting pushed to the backburner. Why?

Well, honestly, a couple of reasons.

I don’t have a solid grasp on what it needs to say. I want this short piece to form the foundation of everything else I do from this point on. The holy grail of my blog. The big idea – the mission – that inspires everyone else to get onboard and go with me wherever this crazy train goes.

That’s pressure. Self-applied pressure, granted, but still. What if I decide to change course midstream? Will my people still be behind me? Will they still be interested in sharing a mission and taking it to new heights on different levels? Will they even like the idea I start with?

For any of you familiar with the StrengthsFinder test, my chief strength is input. That means I absorb information like a sponge. I’m great at synthesizing ideas, but I have issues standing behind an idea or way of thinking for long because I’m constantly analyzing and adding new information.

Okay, confession time.

I’m afraid of commitment. Not like I can’t hold down a relationship type of commitment. It’s more like I’m terrified of committing to an idea or belief system. And it’s starting to hold me back.

That’s why I’ve been holding off on writing this thing. It’s a statement of what I believe and what I’m looking for. And being in the midst of a QLC, these are the major things I’ve been struggling with. Most of August, I felt like I was stuck and had no idea which direction to go next.

That’s when I started the Joy Equation. Now, being a writer in the lifestyle design niche, I’ve seen a LOT of personal development guides like it. I’ve even started a few of them.

But, as I started to go through the exercises, I found that I wasn’t just engaged – I was smiling the entire time I was going through the guide. Even with the tough topics, I was so happy just to have it written and out of my system! What a relief. I did think something – something I could stand behind without any doubt.

Like my values! I thought I had them pretty well refined, but it turned out I had been operating under limiting beliefs of sorts. I’d never given myself room to explore what my values looked like in a larger context. The definitions helped, too. Defining something makes it easier to understand and implement.

Here’s what I came up with:

This was such a massive discovery for me. I knew freedom, adventure, and community were important to me, but romance was like finding a missing link.

It was everything I could never find the words to describe before. I knew I was passionate, but finding such a perfect word was empowering and revitalizing. It was like, “Holy crap! I can finally explain to my partner why little things are so important to me!” It was a revolution for my heart.

So here I am now. This is me presenting what I believe without question. The first words in my manifesto are…

“I believe you are beautiful, brilliant, and unique beyond any doubt. There is nothing you can’t do, and there is no situation you can’t overcome.”

Because it’s my truth. And I can commit to truth.

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Comments (12)

12 Responses to “Conquering the Mission Holding Me Back”

  • KristenCF Says:
    September 29th, 2011 at 10:14 am

    Your strength and determination to committ to yourself is so phenomenal :)

  • Dusti Arab Says:
    September 29th, 2011 at 11:55 am

    P.S. That is my daughter, Evie. She's my favorite. :) Picture credit to Tammy Strobel of http://www.rowdykittens.com

  • Dusti Arab Says:
    September 29th, 2011 at 11:55 am

    Thanks Kristen. :)

  • laurenne_s Says:
    September 29th, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    YAY! A daughter pic. Adorable!
    Also, great call on the romance. I AGREE! Romance in all areas is beautiful. I love all your values.

  • Caroline McGraw Says:
    September 30th, 2011 at 7:46 am

    What a beautifully strong start to your manifesto! :)

  • Ash Says:
    September 30th, 2011 at 9:10 am

    Preach, sistah!

    The big about being hesitant to commit fully to an idea or overarching belief system – I hear you. And echo it back. Huge high-five for working to strip away the limiting belief and for putting yourself out there, bravely, exactly as you are.

    Also – elegance! What a beautiful word and value – lovely!

  • Dusti Arab Says:
    September 30th, 2011 at 9:12 am

    Thank you!

    And seriously, what is life without the romance? Being able to articulate this one has made a huge difference in my relationships since I coined it.

  • Dusti Arab Says:
    September 30th, 2011 at 9:13 am

    Thanks! Yeah, elegance seemed like a strange one at first, but really, I want to have a life that reflects little more Grace Kelly. There are no real "ladies" anymore. I want to be one. ;)

  • Dusti Arab Says:
    September 30th, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    Thanks Caroline! :) I'm pretty stoked for it.

  • Kat Says:
    October 1st, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    I cannot WAIT to read your manifesto, especially with that start and the way you described your values.

  • Dusti Arab Says:
    October 2nd, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    Thank you! I'm so thrilled to be sharing it. I'm thinking it'll be my Christmas Present to myself. :p

  • Elyse Says:
    October 2nd, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    Here, here to Romance! I want to be madly in love with my life! I want to make LOVE to my life! :-)

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