Enjoy the Journey
Those who know me well know that I struggle with patience. If patience is a virtue, I know it is not my favorite. I like action (and in many ways, this makes me a great coach!) I love to "make it happen" and "be about it" instead of talking about it. I say things like "Let's go!" or "Get her done" quite a bit. I have received several rewards in my life for my ability to do. I am very intentional. If I say I am going to do something, I will. In the words of my favorite living male artist, Bruno Mars, "Don't believe me? Just watch." I like this about myself. This "go for it"-ness is how I had the guts to start this business. It's working for me...that is, except all the times it does not...
When I received the calling to found B. Well, I was super stressed because I kept thinking of everything I needed to do: get a business license, create a logo, order business cards, build a website, create marketing materials, and start a business account. I was overwhelmed. For some reason, I felt I had to complete it NOW! I was stressed because my website was not done. I stayed up late writing curriculum for new workshops. I got mad when people took too long to respond to my emails. Didn't they know I needed their response RIGHT NOW?! I was not being very kind to myself. There I was, a wellness coach staying up way past my bedtime, being hard on myself, and setting unrealistic expectations (thus creating the circumstance where I would experience constant "failure"). I was venting about my frustrations in my sister circle when one of the women in the group offered a statement that completely changed how I was treating myself and the work of building a business. My sister said, "It doesn't have to be this hard. What if you just let yourself enjoy the journey?" She was right. I was creating my reality. I was creating stress and frustration. I could do the work I loved in a fun, exploratory, exciting, and loving way toward myself and others. I smiled. Three words stayed with me, "Enjoy the journey." I jokingly suggested that she buy me a mantra band that reminded me to do this...Three months later, guess what I received in the mail?!
Those who are doers or achievers must be careful about how we do our work. It is crucial to enjoy the journey! I am much kinder to myself and how I do this healing work. When I complete a page on my website, I congratulate myself. I say, out of my mouth, "Good job, Adrianne. You're doing great," and then I let myself go to bed at a decent hour. I think, "Today was the day I completed one page of my website. I am getting closer." I have learned to be amazed by all the little victories, small steps, and rewards I would have otherwise missed. I celebrate every new client; I get excited each time I get an email that someone new has subscribed to our YouTube channel, and I say a prayer of thanksgiving every time a new organization wants to work with B. Well. Looking back over the day, week, or month, I can see we are progressing! This business is growing, and I am laughing each step of the way! I am in amazement of this journey.
Learning to wait is difficult, but I am discovering that waiting and moving slowly allows us to see the miracle of the unfolding. It involves trusting that all things will happen in time. The caterpillar doesn't worry if it will become a butterfly; it will become the butterfly because that is what it is made to do. There is no need to rush the process; it will do nothing but cause stress and worry. What is more productive is to watch the process in amazement that we are already designed to grow, mature, blossom, and, eventually, FLY!
Just like B. Well is still unfolding, so are you! Allow us to coach you as you experience the process of BECOMING! Let us coach you along the way. We are thrilled to witness what you are assigned to offer our world. What are you to become? Here is to trusting the process! It will happen!
In Amazement,
Dr. Adrianne R. Pinkney,
Integrative Wellness and Life Coach
