How much compassion do you have for yourself? Do you show empathy for yourself? As designers, we talk a lot about empathy. A designer’s ability to empathize In order to produce meaningful and successful outcomes, we need to know as much as we can about the user/customer/client.
What do you believe about yourself as a designer? What do you think about you? Do you tell yourself you’re not good? Do you tell yourself other designers are better than you? Do you believe you’re not enough?
Do you know who you are as a designer? How does that question make you feel? Unsure? Confused? Filled with self-doubt? Anxious? Stuck? Lost? To determine who you are and how you want to show up as a designer, you need to choose how you want to feel first.
A situation happens at work and your mind is spinning about it. So many different thoughts go through your head it makes you dizzy. Your mind keeps going round and round in a loop, repeating the same thing over and over.Â
I’ve written in the past about the things I’ve learned early on in my process of knowing myself better. I’ve written more about it here. I’m so grateful to have found coaching and to love what I do. In the process of doing what I do,
How are you feeling? Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. What’s the vibration you experience in your body. Do you feel anxious? Overwhelm? Frustrated? Tired? Calm? Confident? Make note of how you’re feeling.
We can use the The Self Coaching Model to get things done and to take action now. We often don’t take action despite wanting to. Do these sound familiar? “Why can’t I find time to work on my passion project?”
I lost my mind I watched myself make up untrue stories in my head and became impatient because of my thoughts about “all the things that aren’t done.” I felt overwhelmed. I tried to change the situation and to control someone else.
The writer Donna Tartt, who has published three novels in two decades, said in response to the question “Why do you take so long?”: “If you’re not enjoying it, you’re probably doing it too fast.” I love this thought. I’ve been thinking about how it can apply to our big goals.