Doubts are part of the human experience. I personally think it’s actually healthy to have doubts, because it means you’re thinking holistically about something. You really know all the sides of the story, and it’s not all judgment-based black & white!

However, if we fail to recognize that most doubts are fear-based, and we give into them accepting them as truth, then they become barriers that block us from experiencing our lives in full color. That’s the sticky situation.

So today, I’m going to dispel your limiting doubts and beliefs, and give you new ways to think about these thoughts that will inevitably come up for you when you’re building a career that aligns with your passion.

Usually this means starting your own business, but it could mean taking a big pay cut to do something you love that’s less corporate-y and more creative & soul-feeding for you! In either case, I’m sure all of these doubts will arise at some point in your journey, and you’ll need to know how to deal with them or find a new perspective so that you can continue on your merry way 🙂

1. “I can’t possibly make enough money doing what I love to maintain my lifestyle”

First get clear on what your “lifestyle” actually is. What do you WANT it to be? My guess is that pursuing your passion will fill you up so much that the material things that you needed to pay for before, will suddenly seem less important. You won’t be spending your time shopping and overspending anymore. So there’s that 🙂

Also, another great thing to do is to take stock of what you actually need to be spending each month. My guess is that you (like most of us) have some automatic payments coming out of your bank account for things you no longer use, or don’t use frequently enough to be paying monthly. For example, gym memberships, online subscriptions, services that you no longer need or use, etc. Check out the lovely Denise Duffield-Thomas’ video below all about how to find money leaks in your business (and your life)!

2. “I’ll never have a steady income again”

Start by thinking about how much you’d actually like to be making each month. What’s the number that feels do-able, but is still a bit of a stretch? Dip a toe outside of your financial comfort zone! Then work backward from there – what’s your capacity? How many widgets can you make or how many clients can you serve? Work backward to determine your pricing, and then move toward the goal you’ve set for yourself.

Longer contracts with clients can lead to a more steady feeling in your business. Instead of 1-month contracts, start offering a minimum of 4-6 months instead. Instant consistency for your bank account!

Keep in mind that the amount of risk you’re willing to assume directly correlates to how successful you’ll be in business or a creative endeavor. Maybe a steady income isn’t really “worth it” to you once you’re really doing something you love. You also have the opportunity to make so much MORE money, and the “steadiness” of your personal income will be up to you, since you will decide how to compensate for busier and slower months over time.

If you need more support on this one (it’s a tough one!), I’d love to chat with you and see how I can help! I’m an expert creative problem-solver, at your service 🙂

3. “My passion for this could dissipate, and then I might have to start from scratch”

And if you’re working a corporate job or just working for someone else, you could be fired, laid off, restructured, downsized, or any other word that they could use to tell you it’s time to start from scratch. The skills you have acquired over the course of your life up until this moment don’t vanish just because you leave what you’ve always known — if the worst thing that happens to you is that you learn something new, try, and decide it’s not what you want anymore, GREAT! That’s a lot more than most people could say for themselves! Would you rather try, learn, and grow or live with regret?

4. “There are other people doing the same thing as me, and I might not stand out”

What you create is unique becuase it comes from YOU! No one else has had an identical life experience to yours, and therefore, you bring something unique to the table just by being you, with your skill set, experiences, values, and personality to back it up.

And a big bonus is that people connect with WHY you do something. So be authentic and tell your story, and people will fall in love with your uniqueness and be chomping at the bit to buy whatever you’re sellin’ sister.

5. “Anyone could find this information online for free and do it themselves – why would they pay me for it?”

Here are 6 reasons that banish this doubt! Check out this video by the lovely Marie Forleo, below.

No matter what doubts you’re experiencing, the #1 most important thing when you’re stepping into unknown territory to turn your passion into profit is to have a strong support system of like-minded people who know what you’re going through. Whether they’re going through it at the same time in their own lives, or have already been there, this is the key step.

That’s exactly why I am so passionate about supporting women on their journeys from unfulfilling, soul-sucking careers to turning their passions into a paycheck!

I’d love to know in the comments section below, what is the #1 doubt you’re currently experiencing?

Can’t wait to read all of your responses!

Emily