Is there anything on your “to-do” list that you’re dreading right now?
Is there something you need to create or accomplish… and when you think about it, you feel slightly anxious, pressured and more than a little resistant?
It could be a creative project… like writing your sales page. Or blog post. Or the first chapter of that book you keeping saying you want to write.
Or maybe it’s something less time-intensive. Like… making phone calls to potential clients. Following up with someone you met at a networking event.
Whatever it is, I have a cool little magic trick that will instantly eliminate your feelings of dread, resistance, anxiety or pressure and give you a major injection of inspiration, creative curiosity and frolicking fun.
I call this trick the Finger Painting Principle™.
Here’s how it works.
Any time you have something you need or want to do and you’re dreading it, resisting it or stressing over it, do this:
Let go of the result.
Let go of your desire to achieve any specific result or outcome.
Let go of any need to do it well.
Let go of any impulse to impress or please anyone.
And instead, focus on… Finger Painting.
Here’s what I mean.
Do you remember what it was like to finger paint as a kid? I sure do. It was the only art activity I liked. Because you didn’t have to be good at it. You didn’t have to draw a cute giraffe or a elegant house or a pretty sunset.
You just stuck your hands into colorful, ooey-gooey paint, followed your impulses, and made a big mess on a big sheet of paper.
No painting inside the lines. No “doing it wrong.” You didn’t even have to make something pretty. You just got to squeal and giggle as you squeezed paint between your fingers and smeared colorful, swirly squiggles onto the page.
Well, when you’ve got a task or project you’re resisting or feeling insecure about, you need to turn it into a finger painting. In other words, let to of any need to get it “right.” Don’t try to create or accomplish something specific… something that will make people ooo and ahhh! Completely abandon your attachment to achieving a particular result.
Instead, just stick your hands into the creative goo that lives within you, follow your impulses, and have a blast smearing your colorful ideas, spur-of-the-moment inspirations and wild whimsies all over the place!
See, if you’re feeling resistance or reluctance or even nervousness about doing something, chances are good it’s because you’re attached to achieving a specific outcome. You need to get it right and do it well. You want to impress others, get the gig, land the client, or make the sale.
You can’t just write a blog post. You have to write one that will get tons of comments and shares, and makes your potential clients fall in love with you.
You don’t get to simply have a pleasant conversation with a potential client. You have to dazzle that client so she immediately wants to sign up for your latest program.
You don’t get to let your pen dance across the page as you pour out your ideas and inspirations. No, you have to turn those ideas and inspirations into a bestselling book that catapults your biz in the 7-figure stratosphere.
You can’t spend the day dreaming up new ways to serve your clients. You need to be strategic and design a signature program, a funnel, and a lead magnet that will attract and convert thousands.
Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having big dreams and specific goals for your biz and creative endeavors. Not at all. You get to want whatever you want and take action to make it real.
But if your desire to get a specific result is laying a thick, wet, wool blanket of heaviness over your creative joy, freedom and fun, you’re in trouble. Because you’re not only going to suffer, struggle and strain your way through that project, your results are going to suck.
Really suck.
Because the energy, attitude and enthusiasm with which you do something or create something massively affects your final outcome. It’s simple science. Like making a cake. The ingredients you put in a cake, the humidity that day, the zeal with which you mix it, the temperature at which you bake it…. all of this contributes to its size, rise, taste, texture and overall appeal.
Equally, the energy, openness, ideas, enthusiasm and creative freedom you pour into any project massively influence, affect and dictate the final outcome.
So… try this, right now.
Think about a project or task you have to do. One you’re avoiding or feeling somewhat anxious about.
Now, tell yourself, “You know what, kitten?” (Okay… you don’t have to call yourself kitten, but who knows? You may like it.) “You can completely let go of any desire or need to achieve any specific result with this project. Really. Let it go! Instead, stick your hands into the wild colors of your imagination, follow your whimsical impulses, and do whatever feels fun, pleasurable and playful for you… and let’s see what happens!”
Now how does your project feel? Now that you don’t have to get any particular results from it?
How do YOU feel as you let go of needing to do it a specific way, or be good at it, or achieve something specific?
Does your resistance fall away? Do you feel more open to what might want to come through you? Did you get a little bump of excitement… like you might actually have a really good time?
Fantastic.
Now, if you’re thinking, “Wait a minute. This is stupid. I can’t just let myself “play” with this project of mine. This isn’t a finger painting. I need real results! I need this to pay off! I need clients and money and hard core results! Not… play and pleasure.”
Yeah, that’s the fear, isn’t it? That if you trust your playful joy, creative impulses and wild ideas, you won’t get hardcore results. You’ll simply end up with a magnificent mess.
But think about it.
If you let your creativity out of the box… if you release yourself from having to do things a certain way… if you give yourself permission to thoroughly enjoy the process, do you honestly think your results will be less extraordinary than if you put your head down, tow the line and push yourself to get it done?
Do you really think you’ll get your best results if you’re in a state of dread, resentment and resistance?
Remember the cake analogy above? The energy with which you create or do anything becomes the end result.
But don’t take my word for it. Try it. Let go of needing to get any specific result. Let go of needing to be brilliant, impressive or remarkable. Instead, give yourself permission to play. To finger paint.
Let me know what happens! Leave a comment below and tell me how it went for you when you applied the Finger Painting Principle. I can’t wait to hear.