Will You Outsource Your Wisdom?

“She was so clear about the vision for my business, but now, I’m not sure.” My client Lorraine had worked with a coach who felt super clear about what she should be doing next. At the time, Lorraine had felt it too.

Now that she was in the implementation phase and away from the coach’s charismatic presence, though, it didn’t feel right to her.

It’s so tempting to listen to someone else when it comes to wisdom. When we feel confusion or doubt (and who doesn’t experience that at times?), a confident voice can be like a siren call to clarity.

That siren call is especially alluring when we’re in a transition. Truth be told, it’s not easy to be in this in-between, liminal state. You know that the old doesn’t work anymore, and you’re not sure what the new looks like.

That’s when we tend to seek out people who will tell us what our ‘new’ is. It’s a relief! It’s as if a weight has been lifted. You have clarity again!

The problem is, you can follow that siren call onto the rocks. It may not be your ‘new’ that the other person is seeing. And it’s almost never that simple.
We’re all influenced by our own experiences and mindset. We see things from our own point of view. That is true for anyone offering you the clear path that they see for your business.

Even if your advisor has great tools that are time-honored. Even if those tools are out on the edge of conventionality and offer mystical insights, maybe they have THE ANSWER?

The truth is, the only person who can see clearly what is right for you is you.
You have your own innate wisdom.
That’s why it’s important to have mentors and advisors who help you tap into your own wisdom, rather than adopting theirs.

We’re all mirrors for each other, right? So what’s so wrong with listening to someone else tell us who we are?

It can feel so comforting to have someone tell you who you are, and therefore how you should run your business.

That comfort is quick to fade. You don’t need that crutch. In fact, like a limb that’s unused, when you depend on someone else’s wisdom or tools, it becomes harder and harder to access your own wisdom.

The way to figure out the right way for you is to keep tapping into your own wisdom. It’s crucial for your own authenticity and success in your business.
When someone gives you advice or ideas or suggestions, always check it against your own wisdom.

Does it resonate with you? Does it feel right? Does it give you energy, or does it drain you? Does your body feel more relaxed and opened up, or constricted?

These are some simple tools you can use to check in with yourself. With your inner wisdom.

If someone tells you, this is who you are, and it doesn’t feel right to you, then chances are, it’s not right. As well-meaning as they may be, as confident as they are with their tools and methods, the ultimate arbiter of your path is you.
As long as you are listening to someone else’s vision for you, it limits you. You are always your best source of wisdom.

The work then becomes to clear away everything that prevents you from tapping into that wisdom.
If no one told you who you are, who would you be?

You have the capacity for greatness. The only road there is by following your own wisdom, not borrowing it from someone else, no matter how well-meaning.
What’s in store for you when you follow your own wisdom? Can’t wait to see it!