#6 - The 6 attributes of Sleeping Beauties

There are certain people who reveal themselves ONLY in demanding situations.
Surprisingly enough, you sometimes find them occupying safe and sustainable positions, in a slow-paced company for years – sometimes decades –  taking the path of security.
I would know, I work regularly with some of them.

The problem is that they are not frequently challenged. They are not flirting with the “edge of the cliff,” and over the years they end up appreciating the softness of that “self-killing-comfort”.
After years of leading successful and smooth professional journeys, they end up calling on me, intent on soul-searching, without a clue as to what could be wrong with them. They are looking for that missing piece, and for their true fulfillment.

I call them “Sleeping Beauties”.
Sleeping Beauties are:

1. Doing OKAY… They sometimes feel bored, but they believe it’s normal.
   
   
2. Not using their full potential. (Don’t start with the usual “How can I be positive that I am not using my full potential?“ Let’s be honest here, deep inside you, you know when you are and when you aren’t. And if you are wondering if you belong in that category, there is a big chance you do.)
   
   
3. Dreaming of another kind of job or life that would bring more adventures, challenges, excitement… anything to wake them up. Adrenaline and meaning are their Holy Grail.
   
   
4. Hoping for a kind of “prince charming” (people, events, situations, opportunities) to come and save them from their “flat” lives.
   There are numerous issues with this perspective:
   1. You might wait too long before any savior shows up (if ever),
   2. You have literally no control over monitoring change when you expect it to come from the outside,
   3. You may gradually lose the dedication and stamina needed to clear the hurdles. This happens when you hire a coach and want him to be the prince-charming. Don’t get me wrong here, hiring a coach is a smart move when you stay in the driver’s seat and use him as the co-pilot. But it is definitely not the other way around.
      Being self-driven and self-motivated is indispensible for major results.
      
5. Doubting their ability to achieve the change they secretly need (whatever change that is). So, it’s a classic catch-22: Because they don’t regularly use their “risk-muscles,” they are a bit rusty and eventually afraid of moving. In the end, most of them remain in this “hoping and waiting” state of mind. In other words, by remaining mundane, they get mundane results. And because of these mundane results, they consider themselves not capable enough to live another life.
   
   
6. Hiding themselves behind the sacred value of “Responsibility.” They would take more chances, I quote: “if only I had no kids and family to support…”

If you are a Sleeping Beauty, there aren’t that many ways for you to be more aligned with yourself and feel fulfilled.
You must face your fear of failing and overcome it with DARING ACTIONS.

- ACTION on the one hand, and fear and doubt on the other, cannot co-exist. They are mutually exclusive, the same way oil and water separate.  Either you are feeding your thoughts of fear/doubt, or you are embracing action, but you can’t do both at the same time. That’s why action is the ultimate antidote to fear/doubt.
Start with any action, don’t over analyze it, just experience its momentum and feel the difference.

- DARING is what sleeping-beauties especially need. THIS is the missing piece. Action won’t be enough. If there is not enough at stake, they will find an alternative not to transcend themselves and miss the chance to tap into their deep courage, their unexpected creativity, their amazing stamina, and their infinite powerful energy.

So, my Sleeping Beauties, TRUST your abilities to make it happen!
You always find a way to succeed. How do I know? Because every time I ask you to go back to your personal journey and identify past victories, you always bring incredible stories to the table. In those stories, you are resourceful beyond measure.

Sleeping Beauties, don’t be afraid of demanding situations, they actually are your best allies.
Embrace them.