Masterful Mindsets ~ What if I have to give up something?

“Sometimes change does require certain sacrifices, but know this – you may lose something good, but you may also gain something even better.”  ~ Michelle Weimer

Question: 

Does worrying that you might have to give something up or lose something you have, keep you from making a much needed or desired change in your life? What would happen if you quit worrying about what you might lose and started focusing on all that you could gain?

Action Challenge: 

This week we are talking about “Loss Pain”.  Or more specifically, the fear of loss pain. And it’s the first in our series of three fear pains that hold us back from creating change or going after our goals and dreams.

What is loss pain? Pretty much what it sounds like. A pain that we feel when we have to lose or give up something. And so the fear of the pain comes when you have a thought or idea that if you go after a dream you have, you might have to sacrifice something in your life. Or if you decide to change something, then you might have to give something up or lose something you already have.

Why does this trip you up? Quite frankly, it’s because the focus that you have is way too small and much too short term. Plus, your why isn’t clear enough.

Example: (Health Goal) You fear having to give up unhealthy foods that “taste good” (short term loss) to actually “feel good” (long term gain). Watch the video to hear more on this AND hear about one of my own Loss Pain Fears that I overcame.

How do you overcome it? Shift your focus from short term loss to long term gain. Take away the negative attitude. Stop fixating on what you might have to sacrifice, give up or lose. And instead, shift that focus and get really clear about what you could gain. What might you gain for yourself both internally and externally? What might you gain for your loved ones? Get really clear about that deep, deep why. Define why you are wanting to make the change or challenging yourself. Define the value in the change or challenge. When you see the gains in that, it makes all the difference in the world. You can have a huge shift just in doing that.

So my challenge for you this week is to take a look at those loss pains that you might be feeling or worrying about, in terms of some of the big dreams or changes you want in your life, and shift your focus from loss to gain. Look for the long-term gain that can come from making that change, not the short-term loss. Get clarity about your big deep why, who you’re serving or who will benefit (yourself internally/externally and others you care about) and then write it down somewhere. Put it on notecards or your vision board – somewhere you can see it so that when you start to get stuck in that fear of loss pain, you can look at all the gains that you have to look forward to by making that change and continuing to go after that goal that you have.

Remember… You might have to give up something or lose something that’s good but if it means that you gain something even better, wouldn’t that be worth it?

***I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts about this week’s topic. Comment below or send an email directly to me at info@michelleweimer.com