My limiting belief right now is that I must be 100% present for my daughter’s last summer break before she graduates college, or I’ve just wasted time that I’m never going to get back.

It feels true right because that’s all factual. Meaning, it is her last summer break, and I will not get that time back. So, this must be true. Time to panic and clear off my calendar!

I was actually inspired to write this because I heard someone say that mistakes are like limiting beliefs, we don’t think we’re making them while we’re in them.

The funny thing is, because I decided to believe this thought, I couldn’t see that it was limiting. I have an older son, three years older than my daughter, and we still hang out and have a great relationship. This is true, even though he went to college on the other side of the country, and we didn’t have time to hang out his last summer break because he permanently moved out there with an internship, then work and so on.

So, it’s hilarious that I think something terrible will happen if I’m not 100% present with my daughter while she’s here for her last summer break.

If this is like making a mistake while it’s happening and not knowing you’re making it, what this means is that if I continue down this path of believing this limiting belief without recognizing it, I’m going to spend this summer in a panic. I’ll then be filled with guilt, and wishing I did it differently when I look back. But guess what? I caught it! Thank goodness and whew.

So, I’ve been mindful. I’m planning my days out by journaling every morning, making sure I make time for what I need to get done while folding in time with my daughter. So far, it’s going great.

BUT, here’s what I realized by deciding to stop, excavate myself, and ask why I was having this limiting belief in the first place. (Digging deeper is my favorite, lol. Really uncomfortable though.)

To be honest, I’m sad. I’m sad that it’s my last child’s last summer before all the scheduled summer, winter, and spring breaks are over. Both children will be in the workforce as adults, and what that means to me is that we’re heading into another chapter of life with the whole family. Although I am thrilled about it, I am also saying goodbye to a chapter of life with my babies. And I learned that neurologically, our brains often interpret that closing and the uncertainty of what is next as a threat. So, that panic is actually about making sure I don’t look back and feel upset about how I closed it.

Again, intellectually, I know all will be fine. But if I plan out of this fear of fucking up this final chapter, I won’t be able to let go and enjoy what’s right in front of me.

Just like I do with my clients once we excavate and get to the root, I ask them: what would you rather believe?

I can get my work done and have a great summer with my daughter like we always have, and like we always will, no matter what chapter we are in.

So, I want to ask you: What are you believing right now that might be keeping you exactly where you do not want to be?

Sit with that.

Get uncomfortable with it.

That is usually where the good stuff is.

And if you are a coach who wants to get better at helping your clients do exactly this kind of work, that is what we are building inside SEAR. Come dig with us.