Collaborate

by Sarah Griesemer

When I suggest that you find someone to collaborate with, what just popped into your head?

Often people think...

I'm not an expert so I'm not ready to.
I don't know enough to.
I don't have time.
They'd see I'm a fraud.
They might find out I don't know what I'm doing.

It's amazing how scary it is to collaborate!  The other day, I was sitting down thinking about co-leading a group with an amazing group leader in town, and instantly dismissed it.  "I'm not good enough yet," was my main story.  And then a wave of fear about being seen "doing therapy" in the raw tidal wave of leading a group.  

For a few weeks I let that marinate.  I watched it, and poked it.  I brought out chocolates on a plate for it to see what it would do.  I played soothing piano music and laid on the couch next to it.  

But you know what, that scary thought didn't kill me, it didn't attack me, and I'm still alive.

I decided maybe it wasn't so scary.  I thought, "Huh.  Maybe I should say this thought out-loud."

So I did.

I told the woman that I was hoping to work with the big scary thought about collaborating and do you know what she did?

She laughed in my face that there was NO WAY I was competent enough to work with her and she kicked dust in my eyes and left.

Okay, no, that was still the fear thought.

She smiled and said that she was flattered, that she thought I was a great therapist, and she would love to talk about it.

And POOF the thought shrinked into a teeny tiny little spot on the floor.

Collaboration won't kill us.  But it might be scary.  And unless we confront that scary feeling and the thought underneath, it STAYS SCARY.  But here's the deal...  Collaboration brings LIFE to a practice.  It brings ENERGY.  It creates warmth and connection and can FUEL you when you are feeling stuck.

Collaboration can help you take off.

Are you ready for it?  This is the time!  Who would you like to work with this year?  What would you like to do?  Write it down, make it real, and tell someone about it.  Tell me!  Either in the comments below, in my IG feed, or just email me!  I'd love to hear.

If you're feeling a bit at a loss about where to start, consider joining our Launch Together group.  We'll ease you into the idea of collaboration and group support and give you cookies.