February 25, 2014 Maria

Do It

Artists and designers do it, entrepreneurs do it, scientists, change agents, and all daring leaders courageously do it.

Give birth to a reality that didn’t previously exist.  

A few days ago I was driving back from a team meeting and suddenly realized that I support a number of powerful teams.  It feels as if it has always been that way; or that magically through my business I am doing what I imagined a few years ago.  The truth is that it didn’t happen overnight or even within my original timeline.  Over time, I got comfortable with my vision, stayed committed and did what I needed to nurture it one small step at a time to make it real.

At first it felt challenging to imagine myself supporting a large group.  I had to promote this new vision to others and more than that; I had to remind myself of what I was creating and capable of.  At first it was awkward.  I felt more unsure than sure of myself.  I trusted myself with the work, but didn’t know with whom or how to even share what I was birthing.

My clients are consistently imagining something in the future that doesn’t exist.  When they first imagine it, it doesn’t feel possible; it is certainly out of their comfort zone. Suddenly these brilliant humans who are masters at creating change and have already done the impossible over and over, have no clue how to make something happen.  I love supporting them as they clarify their vision, own it, give it voice and before they know it — suddenly, magically what they envisioned is a reality.

What are you giving birth to?

One of my all time favorite quotes refers to this very state of being: the time between the thought and the reality.  Lately, I have been thinking of this so often I wanted to share it with you:

You must give birth to your images. They are the future waiting to be born. Fear not the strangeness you feel. The future must enter you long before it happens. Just wait for the birth, for the hour of the new clarity.”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke

I hope this quote warms your heart as it does mine.