Own It

While working on a marketing plan to help grow my Hypnotherapy business, I spent valuable time with a trusted colleague, coach and adviser.  We talked, she asked many questions and then she challenged me to 'own it'.

And, by 'it' she meant my success.

Oooooo - just writing that down makes my mouth go dry and my heart do a tap dance.

Own my success.  How do I go about that?  For most of my life, I've deflected the credit for my successes with phrases like:  'Gee, that success?  Well I guess I just got lucky.'  'I was in the right place at the right time.'  Or, 'Thanks, but it was a team effort, I was just along for the ride.'   What's sad about that is that I said those things to myself, too.

How can I expect others to see me as a successful businesswoman if I don't first see myself that way? 

Do I believe that owning my success would be seen as bragging?  As arrogant?  Is it prideful?  Is it considered in bad taste?  Hmmmm. Maybe that's my old limiting belief about success. 

Maybe it is something altogether different.  Maybe owning success is a way of celebrating life more fully; shining light on one's hard work, intelligence, determination and achievements.

Funny.  Success is something I admire in others and aspire to - and yet, when asked to list my past successes, I come up blank.

That can't be.  I've lived 50 years on this planet, surely I've had some successes.  And, I'm sure if I asked my wonderful family and friends, they'd be happy to remind me of the time I did that, this or another thing.  So, why the heck is it so hard for me to even start the list?

So - there is my challenge for the week.  Begin with the first step;  list a minimum of 10 of successes in my life.

My goal is to believe in myself and my abilities more, own my success, accept the credit for a job well done and begin to feel more sure of myself.  That way, the next time someone asks me what I do, or what I've done, I can speak with enthusiasm and confidence - just like I would if I were describing my best friend and their success.
I love the work I do, and want to do more of it.  By being successful, I will be able to attract more clients and help more people.   So, when I re-frame success and look at it from that angle and at why it's important to me, my success is absolutely a good thing for me to own.