Will Ferrell was sitting in his trailer while filming the iconic movie “Elf” and he said something to the extent of “Where am I going to go from here after this thing flops” (paraphrasing a bit).
Even the people considered the “greats” don’t have it all figured out. They question their decisions. They have fear of how they are going to look to others. They have moments of weakness.
“Elf” didn’t flop, as we now know, but there was no way he could’ve known that then.
He had to put on his yellow tights one leg at a time, walk out of that trailer, and show up as the best performer he could be.
We don’t always know what will happen. That’s part of what makes it exciting.
When it does work out we have the opportunity to look back at all of those low points, the times we doubted ourselves, and realize that it was a part of the process.
It was a part of our growth.
It’s like standing on top of the mountain and seeing all of the hills and valleys we had to climb over to get here.
We gain confidence and conviction with each one.
We believe in ourselves.
The game is set up to separate the ones willing to go past the point of fear, uncertainty, and doubt and progress forward versus those who close up shop and quit at the first sign of adversity.
Showing up because we believe in what we are doing becomes a great tool to lean on during times when we think we aren’t good enough.