How to open yourself up to possibility in the new year

A couple years ago, a woman named Jenn came to me for coaching. She was an interior designer here in New York, and she was going through a lot of changes: the end of a long-term relationship, moving to a new apartment, adjusting to living alone. She wasn't sure exactly what she wanted, but she felt like she was starting over, and she wanted to make it count. 

At the end of our first session, I asked Jenn to choose something to work on. "In what area in your life do you want to make some real change?"

She thought for a minute. "You know," she said, "I thought I'd say growing my business, or start dating again. Because I do want those things, eventually. But that's not what I thought of just now." She looked nervous. 

"What did you think of?" I said.

                  "I've always wanted to learn how to dance," she said sheepishly. "I've always wanted to be a ballerina. Maybe now's the time to do that."

                  "That's fantastic!" I said.

                  She gave me a sheepish smile, but it disappeared right away. She shook her head and said, "But I mean, it's not even possible. I'm over forty, I'm not in great shape, I'm not flexible at all, and I don't know the first thing about ballet."

More often than not, when I ask someone what they want, the first thing they think is something big and exciting. The second thins is, “Here are all the reasons why it can't happen.” 

Many people are so well-versed in the arguments against what they want that they could write a book on it.

Why is that such a common reaction?

It's our first line of defense. We say “no” to protect ourselves. We shoot down any possibility of change, so that we don't risk trying and failing. We think we're protecting ourselves from disappointment and risk.

But what if we changed from a fixed to a growth mindset? What if we flipped that “no” to a “yes”? 

You know what would happen? Our brains would get more and more used to the idea that our goals just might be possible. They’d start to rewire themselves around this new way of thinking. And gradually, that new vision would become the norm. 

Often, the older we get, the more crystallized our lives become. It becomes harder and harder to try new things, take new changes, open up to new possibilities. 

While talking to Jenn, I asked her if it was possible for some other fortyish non-dancer to ever learn ballet. 

"Of course," she said. "If they just work hard at it, they probably could."

"What would that person do?" I said.

She shrugged. "Look for adult dance lessons," she said. "Sign up. Start stretching."

"What do you think would happen if you did those things?"

She was quiet for a minute. "I don't know," she said. "I might learn a thing or two about ballet."

Before that conversation, Jenn had built a fortress around herself. She'd denied the possibility that she could learn to dance, in order to keep herself safe from emotional risk. She'd taken on the belief that it wasn't possible for her. And she came really close to turning those beliefs into self-fulfilling prophecies.  

But then, there was a crack in the wall. She started to consider the idea, and slowly, it opened up. Over the course of a few weeks, she got more and more used to the idea that she could be a dancer. And she began to act on it.

That was a year ago. Since then, Jenn has advanced several levels and is planning to perform at her studio's next showcase. She walks with confidence and poise. She's made new friends through the studio. She's gotten stronger and more flexible, and some back pain she thought was chronic has disappeared. She's also taken up yoga, and it thinking of getting trained to teach. So many new things have opened up for her since she decided to take that little risk of saying "yes."

If you’re thinking, “Well, isn’t that special. Good for Jenn, whoever that is. But my situation’s different. I have X, Y, and Z. I have a bad knee, and a root canal tomorrow, and my kids have soccer practice every night until seven. Plus we’re renovating our kitchen, so I can’t even make breakfast without sneezing.”

Okay, okay. I get it. I know it can be convincing, that inner monologue. I’ve got that tape playing in my head, too. But it’s just fear talking. It’s another disguise for “not good enough.”

Treat it like an annoying younger sibling. Ignore it. Whatever you do, don’t engage with it, do not try to negotiate with it, and for Pete’s sake, don’t believe it.

Instead, let yourself consider:

What if it was possible? What would you do then?

If even that's too much, try:

What if it was possible for someone else?

What would they do?

What might happen if you do those things?

If you want to go even deeper into these questions by tapping your body intelligence, check out my Moti Minute on this topic here>>> Not only will it help you tap into new channels of resourcefulness and creativity, it'll get your blood pumping and you'll feel great!

Tell me below! Then go out, open yourself up to possibility, and shine.