February 9th, 2011
Vomit. Your Dreams. Rocking Out.
The stupidest thing has been happening to me lately. I’m working with this AMAZING organization called Bay Area Girls Rock Camp. It’s a camp and after school program where they teach middle school and high school girls confidence, self-esteem, and expression through playing instruments and writing music, and rocking the fuck out.
This is perfect for me. It’s exactly in line with my values…inspiring people to live their dreams. It’s been my mission statement ever since I was in a band. It was the reason I stayed in a band so long, to be able to reach girls just like this. It became my most favorite part of being in a band. And I actively pursued this organization. So why the fuck do I feel sick to my stomach every time the program rolls around on Tuesdays and Wednesdays? I stress about it. I worry about it. I feel inadequate. Like what could I possibly teach these girls? I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never taught bass before. I think about it all, all week long. And I stress myself out.
My friend put it in perspective for me…he said something like “Dude…you’re ridiculous. You’ve played tons of shows in front of thousands of people with no problem, and here you are afraid of a few 8 year olds??” I giggled. Oh yeah. Right. I’ve done way scarier things. And as I was thinking about this today, it occurred to me that the reason it makes me sick, the reason it feels so scary is because I care SO much about it. It’s important to me. The message matters. The quality of what I’m providing matters. What I want for these girls is so big and so amazing that I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to provide that for them. I care so much, I’m sick. And that tells me I’m in exactly the right place
So if you’re not feeling sick to your stomach when thinking about and moving forward in your business, your job, your cause, it might be time for a change. Nausea seems to be a good compass of the things that truly matter to us. When in doubt, ask yourself “does this option make me want to vomit?” If not, choose the one that does.
Leave me a comment and tell me about what makes YOU want to vomit. (Never knew throwing up could be so much fun…eh?). Don’t keep the fun to yourself…share with your friends.
I lOVE this post! It is exactly what I needed to hear today. I’m starting a whole bunch of new, scary things in my life and yes totally feel like puking every day I sit down at my computer. It’s so nice to know that even the pros like yourself feel the same way! Thanks so much! Now I’m ready to rock!
Hey girl! Aww…I’m SO glad this helped. And it sounds like you have some very exciting things on the horizon. DO IT DO IT DO IT!!! :-)
Keep in touch with me. I want to know about your puke worthy new ideas!!!
Xo,
Sally
Jaaaa!! You’re dang on the money. I’m feeling like that these days; I can smell change comin’ and I’m glad that you spelled out for me and made sense of what I’m feeling.
This feeling of ‘Argh’, swallow hard, tight knot in stomach, wanna hide under the bed… Very much like Steve Jobs just before his first TV interview, check it out: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/a-23-year-old-steve-jobs-on-tv/?smid=tw-nytimesbits
I checked out Bay Area Girls Rock Camp and it flippin’ rocks!
Hey Kat….OOOOOOOO! So exciting! I want to hear more about that change-a-comin!
And so glad you checked out the Rock Camp. It’s seriously so inspiring to be there!
Hanging out with you makes me want to vomit because you’re so fucking awesome and I care so much about you
I’ll bring a barf bag with me next time I see you. :-)
Sally,
You are absolutely correct. Nausea is a great way at determining the value of something, so to speak. In fact, I am feeling downright ill this week. Moving into a new apartment in Huntington Beach with my family on Saturday, I put my 3 year old in Montessori & hope she’s getting the best foundation for education, and my husband finally decided to kiss his dead-end job good-bye and try his hand at self-employment and greener pastures. I want to throw-up. The stress of finances, making the wrong decisions about my daughter’s long term future (even though this is just preschool we’re talking about), carrying the weight of everything while my hunny spreads his wings…and not the mention the 7 month old whose trying to walk around a less than safety approved apartment in the midst of packing?! Now i know it’s ok. I’m going to cling to my nausea and salute it with a Rolaids.
Yes…totally! And I love it. Rolaids…getting you through one major life event at a time.
This is a great post, Sally. You’re right…we all react to that fear meter, that sick feeling that tells us danger is ahead. I have always thought it was protecting me, warning me that I shouldn’t go forward. Now I know it is just the body’s reaction to risk, any kind of risk….a great thing when a lion is charging at you, but maybe not so essential in regular life. Yes?
The trick is distinguishing between good intuition (the kind that says “this guy’s a jerk…stay away) and baseless fear.
Hurray for cheerleaders who can help you sort it out!
Totally! I think it’s so easy to think of the feeling as a real danger, like, “if I’m feeling like I want to throw up, obviously I shouldn’t be doing that.” But the new way to think of it is to just explore it a little more. Is it real danger? Or is it just plain old fear of you getting closer to the things you really want in life? Hmmmmmm
LOVE it Sally!! So true, if it doesn’t scare the crap out of you it’s probably not your soul fulfilling, make yourself want to puke daily, out of this world dream come true!! I am SO grateful I want to vomit on the regular these days. Rockstar passion is awesome – like you :)
GIRL!!!! Talking to you sparked this blog! So thank you for being such an inspiration. I’m glad nausea is happening all around. We’re on the right track!
Aaawwww, that makes me happy! :)
This post really made me think.
#1: I really hate puking (like I’ll do ANYTHING in power to NOT puke)
#2: Taking on new challenges, projects, dreams = scary (puke scary)
A-Ha! moment = no WONDER I’m so hesitant to put myself out there and rock my own shiz…’cause it induces the puke reflex…which I hate more than anything in the world.
DAMN!! Seriously Sally…you’re a genius! :)
Girl…EXACTLY! That’s the point. That we usually avoid (like the plague) those things are too scary, challenging, and puke inducing. But it’s always THOSE things that are the ones we SHOULD do because they matter the most to us. :-)
Garth Algar: Uhm, Wayne? What do you do if every time you see this one incredible woman, you think you’re gonna hurl?
Wayne Campbell: I say hurl. If you blow chunks and she comes back, she’s yours. But if you spew and she bolts, then it was never meant to be.
Love it! Gotta hurl if you want your dream! (woman)
HAHAHHAHAHAH!
“If you’re gonna spew, spew into this.”
Yep – I feel like that almost everyday – lol! I put off all the wonderful things I have and want most in my life. So weird… thanks for the inspiration!
RIGHT!?!?! I know…me too. :)