Here’s a really common dynamic: you’re getting ready to put something out there, like a new way of presenting your work, or a workshop, or a new product, or even your business as a whole.
Then, the getting-ready involves gritting your teeth, pushing frantically, and doing a lot of high-energy “marketing” tasks to get the thing out there.
But what happens when you Just. Can’t?
This happened to my friend and mastermind buddy Molly Gordon. We were talking about a beautiful, profound piece of work she’s bringing out into the world, and how she was thinking she needed to do a webinar and a whole promotional push, and she just didn’t have it in her to do that.
One of the lessons that has come to me over the years that can be hard to truly trust and lean into is that the Divine always provides what is needed. This applies equally to our states and energy levels, as it does to other kinds of resources.
Here’s a question for you: what if the energy level that arrives in response to a project isn’t resistance, or a problem, but just simply what’s appropriate for your heart to work with it?
What if, when turning to facing your marketing, your energy drop is actually a way of grounding you?
In Molly’s own words: “I realized that I wasn’t reluctant to market. I was reluctant to get hyped up to market. When I thought about having conversations about the program with people I cared about, whether in email or on the phone or on Facebook, I felt great. I found plenty of enthusiasm for my program where before there had been a wall of seeming resistance.”
You can read her whole post on Facebook here.
There are absolutely times which call for what might be called “push.” However, in my experience, every time the push has been successful, it’s because the energy for the push has been there.
If the energy isn’t there, there’s always been a different path forward.
I was talking to someone in my small group coaching who was struggling with writing regular newsletters for her list. The newsletters she was writing were beautiful, in-depth explorations that always moved me. But I asked her if perhaps not every newsletter needs to be so in-depth. Were there shorter, easier ways of writing?
Next time she reported in to the group she had easily and rapidly written shorter newsletters that had the same level of appreciative response from her readers, and that took her much less time and energy to write.
The assumed need to push can easily arise from our ego’s attempt to create control, certainty and admiration, which are shadow stand-ins for what the heart truly yearns for: love, compassion, safety and appreciation.
Next time, perhaps right now?, you’re facing a business project that you think requires a big push but you feel drained of energy, try just resting into the energy level you have. See the project from where you actually are, energy/emotion-wise.
What if it was okay for the project to change to match your energy, rather than the other way around?
I would *love* to hear what you find! Are you willing to share a before and after of a project you’re looking at?
p.s. Ready to help your business grow (but without getting hyped up to push?)
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31 Responses
Mark,
This is exactly what I needed to hear today. Brilliant. Thank you!
Ana Coeur- you are so welcome. 🙂
This is why I still follow your blogs even though I am no longer doing self employed work – because this stuff isn’t about work it’s about life ☺️ I have so many “life” tasks on at the moment – I’m moving house for starters – that require so much of my energy and so much pushing…or do they?? Thanks for the reminder!
Much love, Kay x
Kay- I’m so honored… and it’s so true, such wide applications for these teachings.
Wow did I need to read this. I’m “revving up” to start a vlog for my biz, and have been feeling so much resistance. “Try just resting into the energy level you have”. So simple in thought yet so revolutionary in the context of everything else I’m hearing. I’m so so grateful. Thank you
Jenny- Yes! You are so welcome.
Thanks, Mark, this was perfect! I am “retired” but just produced my first workshop in many years. It was a huge success, but now my ego mind is worrying about what I “should” be doing next. I’m realizing that I reached this point by following the guidance of Spirit, and what I’m doing now (establishing connections with the people here I resonate with) is just (and maybe all) that I need to do now, and I can trust that same Spirit to guide me to whatever that next step will be.
Blessings and gratitude, Lynne
So beautiful, Lynne- and how wonderful to hear from you!
I love this article! I tend to go on automatic and push in these situations too. Recently I was preparing a webinar training where I would share a newish program. I kept procrastinating and felt confused about what to share.
Then some members of my current group referred 4 people who signed up. No webinar needed! Yes, I’ll still do the webinar, but not this month. I like ease, I could get used to this new paradigm.
Kara- a great thing to remember- “no webinar needed”… I love that. Let’s all get used to it.
Thanks, Mark. I’m no longer primarily self-employed, but I love this post, as I was going through this exact thing this week with regards to drawing/painting and writing for my blog…and I came to the same conclusion (; Once I accepted my true energy level, it was no longer a problem. Now, I need to learn how to be comfortable with shorter blog posts, lol.
Camille- I love that we were on the same wavelength. Whoosh!
Goodness, Mark – what a timely article! I’ve been *pushing* to create an online course that really calls for clarity and simplicity. My ego has been clamoring for me to include certain information that is cutting edge, but I know in my heart that it’s too much for this project, that all I need to do is address the concepts briefly and in a way that is more like my storytelling to a group of kids — easy to grasp and fun. I’m curious, now, what might happen if I allow myself to enter that sort of playful, wondering state. How, for instance, would I express these concepts to a group of kids?
Thank you, Mark, for encouraging me to open a different door, the one that is right here and now!
Blessings,
Jane
Mark boy are you’re onto something here. (Repeat)….. I feel like this is such a universal message and even as I write this the heaviness I so often carry around at odds with my spirit is lifting. This week I am slogging my way through my 5th proposal and my energy is waning. I know the conversation will go well, so maybe I don’t need to force myself to write the perfect proposal?
More broadly this is such an abundantly graceful and compassionate way of living my heart practically lept out of my body and toward your post as I was reading it.
I’m going to hold this as my vision—–I think through HOB and now Foundations I’ve found myself opening the space up for this, but its hard to let go of many years of my brain being wired with Catholic guilt and all kinds of shoulds. Thank you for hearing my hearts yearning.
Laurel- Yes- it does feel like a universal message- I’ve been really relaxing into it myself.
Hi Jane- yay! So glad it was timely. And I love the curiosity and playfulness.
Thank you for this, Mark–and for offering permission to let go of certain *shoulds.*
As an introvert, giving workshops just isn’t my thing, but I’d been pushing myself to accept an invite to give one at a local yoga studio. The opportunity was *perfect*…but totally not where I am, energy/emotion-wise.
Thanks to your guidance, I went back to the studio owner and suggested, instead of a workshop, I offer 2 hours of time when people could sign up for 20-minute free consults.
I said I’d make sure anyone who came would take something away in the form of one or two next steps that would support them, wherever they are with eating/food/health. I also assured her I wouldn’t be pushy, so far as promoting my services, though I’d mention what I do and invite people to sign up for my newsletter.
I hoping this series of personalized, intimate conversations about eating and food will allow me to better offer what I have to share and more easily connect (whether or not someone becomes a client). So much more aligned with where I’m at, in energy and emotion.
I was very straight-forward about all of this with the studio owner, and she responded: “I think that sounds really nice and much more like how you like to do business. Send me some language (for a flier/promotion!)”
Dana- what a brilliant example! I’m so glad you grabbed it with both hands… gently. 🙂
the timing of this was perfect as I was about to go into guilt and shame. I’m in recovering from illness and taxing personal issues, my income needs a boost but I don’t have the energy physically or emotionally to boost it. There is what I now can see as another way. Thank you for posting this today – I’m going to stay open to what that is.
Angela- nothing like perfect timing, eh? And I’m so glad it helped you avoid guilt and shame.
Oh, lovely post, Mark. The title got me to read this ahead of my many e-mails.
I am in a time of having my business be on life-support–barely breathing–because of what is going on inside of me. I have had to surrender, as much as I can allow myself, to what is going on and do my best to trust that what I need to do will help me with my business down the road.
And that seems to be one of the biggest lessons of this time–trust.
Iris- surrender is such a sweet place, yet hard to reach when stressed… so glad this was helpful for you in this time. So much trust…
Yes, as always, Mark, you have hit the nail on the head. Thank you! I am also in a place of low energy. Because of it, I am essentially planning to retire – at least from giving treatments, though I will continue with classes for a while. Still, I wonder whether it is really time to retire, or I just need to do things differently. I am still feeling my way with this. I am not marketing; newsletters are simply updates about Reiki events in the area. It is a strange way to be and a strange place to be. Yet it is where I am, and it is making me lean into – and feel into – Spirit. That’s the good part. Trusting that Spirit will show the way, and hoping I am receiving the messages well. It still requires a discernment process to learn whether “I don’t wanna!” means this (whatever it is in any given moment) is not for me, or whether there it is a signal that something needs adjustment.
Siddheshwari- you are so welcome. Leaning into Spirit- really, the only game in town, right?
Hi Siddheshwari,
me too. Retiring is so final! For me, working means also sharing my knowledge and love… but that will continue.
Does Spirit not listen to our deep desires as well as fears?
Great and timely article, and even better title. Business building/education on the whole has felt like an enormous amount of exhausting pushing with little ROI. Looking forward to more ease doing more of what feels easy and resonant and less of what doesn’t. Imagine that!
Miriam- that has my vote, also- more easy! More resonance! 🙂
The cagey little perfectionist in me says thank you.
Michelle- my 5 planet Virgo/Enneagram 1 says you’re welcome. 🙂
Thank you, Mark!! Very timely indeed. I am acquiring a tool that shows the human energy field, live. It’s so exciting, but how can I explain it, I’m not technical? How will I deal with sceptics? I really want to show sceptics! 🙂
At some point I suddenly was clear: I will just work from my heart. Deal with what comes, as it comes.
I believe it’s not as much about what we launch, but our intention. How pure is it is.
Best wishes!
Monika- glad it was so timely! Only work from the heart. What comes, is what comes.