27: Facing the Fear of Moving Forward and Why You're Still Where You Started

I’ve been on this journey of spiritual, personal growth for a few years now. I’ve overcome mental illness, learned to live happily, and have made so much progress in how to keep house and home make in that time, but one thing I’ve been faced with time and time again is this one major roadblock: the fear of moving forward. I have my theories why these feelings bubble up and stop us from pursuing our best life possible. It’s uncomfortable to change. It’s new and it’s terrifying, even when it’s something really, really good for us. More than anything though, I think we have a hard time facing the question: who am I when I’m not a hot mess? If I’m not busy chasing kids all day and cleaning up behind them, if I have a moment to sit and let my brain think - what will I think about? My dad never finishes anything - and I’ve worked so hard to fight against that instinct in myself. His shop (and surrounding areas) are always a cluttered mess - another instinct in myself that I’ve had to fight. I’ve seen him get on kicks of cleaning up and making tons of progress, then he just stops. I’ve watched this pattern in him enough to start noticing it in myself and others. When I really started to declutter my house (still a work in progress) I noticed this anxious need to stop after any huge hurdle had been crossed - not a need to rest, a need to stop. I started with my kitchen. I downsized the amount of dishes we had so they actually fit nicely in the cabinet, I cleared the counter tops so there was no visible clutter to greet me, and shifted things around so they were in the most convenient places possible. This completely reset the vibe in my kitchen and it felt GOOD to be in my kitchen for the first time in my life. Then I was faced with a new source of anxious energy. Instead of feeling that usual anxiety of being in a messy spaces, surrounded by “unmade decisions” as Allie Casazza puts it in Declutter Like a Mother, but a new anxious energy rooted in uncertainty about myself. Links Mentioned:  Read the full show notes here: https://brittniclarkson.com/2022/08/02/27-overcoming-the-fear-of-moving-forward-getting-comfortable-with-growth-and-success-%ef%bf%bc/  Freebie Happy Mom Mindset Guide: https://brittniclarkson.ck.page/happymommindset Happy Mom-Brain Workbook: http://brittniclarkson.com/happymom/ Quick Declutter Guide: https://www.etsy.com/MeantToBloom/listing/1058816779/declutter-your-home-in-4-weeks-dont?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1644866447102 Allie Casazza: www.instagram.com/allie_thatsme