Waiting for your Montage?

The movies have lied to us, my friend.

The way they portray the creative level-up? The hero bringing her Idea to Life? Full of falsehood!

A gif of Betty White from Golden Girls tilting her head and saying, “Really?”

You know what I mean, right?

I'm talking about The Montage. Like:

The girlboss protagonist stuck in a dead-end publishing job has decided to Write Her Own Novel, so a dreamy, driving song comes on, and then we experience The Montage of her creative level-up. 

She's:

 - furiously scribbling in a notebook on the 6 train

 - looking out a rain-streaked window, pen to cheek

 - sitting at her desk long after everyone else has gone home for the day, typing inspiredly by lamplight

 - striding down the sidewalk, eyes dreamy and mouth corners upturned.

How romantic!

In the movies, The Montage shows us all the prettiest parts of the creative level-up. It makes it look intense and lovely and delicious.

Opening the new boutique is so fun and glamorous!

Planning the huge event is such a whirlwind of color and glee!

Transforming the shabby warehouse into a chic art gallery is sooo coool.

In my experience, though, that's  r a r e l y  what the creative level-up feels like.

In the real-life creative level-up, there's a lot of start-and-stop as we shift into a new way of being.

There are as many lulls in inspiration as there are bursts.

There's a lot of second-guessing, and self-doubt, and financial anxiety.

There's a lot of discomfort, as we face our fears and encounter obstacles.

Because these bits are NOT in The Montage, when we encounter them, it's so easy to feel like Something's Wrong. 

Like maybe this is a terrible idea.

Or maybe we don't have what it takes.

Or - worst of all - that because this doesn't FEEL LIKE the level-up, we must not be IN the level-up.

Here's what I have to say to all that:

→ If you have an idea brewing, you are at the beginning of the creative level-up. It's not coming - it's Here. I know, there's no soundtrack, and there's way more laundry than you expected. But You Are Here.

→ When you choose to actualize your idea, it's going to be harder and glitchier than it looks in The Montage. And/but? Bringing your idea to life is definitely going to spark some very montage-y moments that bring you - and your Work - alive.

→ You don't have to face the discomfort, obstacles, second-guessing, and self-doubt of the creative level-up alone. You can have a mindset coach at the ready, and that mindset coach can be me.

And you can begin now.

If you're worried it's Not the Right Time to take action on this Idea, because life is not feeling Montage-y?

Because you're busy and bogged down and bored?

Because you're still not quite sure your Idea will work?

Because your Idea feels way more intimidating than glamorous/gleeful/cool?

If any/all of that is true, and yet your Idea is still there, glimmering . . .

the Right Time can absolutely be NOW.

Unpause. Press Play.

With love and encouragement,

Natalie