What's stopping you?

I have this new friend that was born out of a love of donuts. She runs a very successful local business. She has asked me to bring my dream and business into hers. I am totally on board. In fact I am beyond flattered/humbled/grateful. We spoke on the phone Monday evening about business, ideas and expanding. She asked me a question that stopped my breath.

What is stopping you?

I immediately felt flustered and embarrassed. 

Her: What is stopping you? 

Me: Nothing. 

Me: Nothing but me & my own inner critic.

Her: Don't listen. Tell it to go away.

Me: uh.................

We then began a beautiful conversation about our inner critic, our insecurities and how to choose to listen or not to listen. How to accept who we are and where we've been and move forward. By conversation I actually mean she spoke and I listened. I felt at times like she must have a secret door into my brain and thoughts. How does she get this/me? The answer was because she has been there. I was not alone in my thinking and self defeating inner dialogue. She said so many things that hit home for me, that spoke to my heart. I wished I could have reached into the phone and smothered her with the hug I felt building in my chest. 

I hung up the phone, walked into the kitchen, looked at Cory and said "Who is this women who has come into my life and left me speechless." Then I started crying. Not a sad cry, a cry of pure gratitude. 

Why, as women who have the world at our finger tips, do we talk ourselves out of our ideas/gifts/talents?

Why does that monster ego creep up and tell us that we don't deserve something? Be it money, success, happiness, etc? Why do we feel guilty for wanting more? More for ourselves? 

Are we conditioned to take a back seat? To sit on the sidelines and watch others live their dreams? 

I am not sure I know the answers to those questions but I do know that I think it's bullshit. I don't want that for me and certainly not for my daughter. If I squash my dreams because I listen to the voices in my head then I am teaching her and those around me that it is OK. 

It's not easy to be brave. It's not easy to silent the voices. It's not easy to step outside of our comfort zone. It's not easy to put ourselves and our talents out into the world. It's not easy to be vulnerable. 

However, we owe it to ourselves and to the world to be great. 

To be daring and say: I can do this. I am enough. I am doing things that matter. 

loving my new business cards

I just wanted to pop by and share my new business cards.

 I am so happy with them.

Watch for a Halloween DIY pillow post coming up soon.

Push Back

New look. New adventures.

I have been telling myself for over a year now that I should open up an Etsy shop for my cards, mini books, kits and various other goodies that I keep myself busy with. However, the usual suspects kept me from following through. You know, the voices that say things like "Why bother, there are so many other people doing the same thing." or "You'll never sell anything." or "Why embarrass yourself."

Now let's get something straight- I would never, not for a second, tolerate someone else talking to me like that so why is it okay for me to talk to myself like that? It isn't! At the end of the day it makes me really sad that that is how my internal voice sounds. Who the f-bomb does she think she is?

Cory said it beautifully to me one night while I cried on his shoulder- "Nadine, you need to push back.  Acknowledged that your fears and insecurities are there but stop letting them run the show. Push back. Push back."

Push back.

So that is what I did. I found my courage and I pushed back.

Welcome to my new shop.

Nadine Karen Design

I finally realized that I would feel worse if I never went ahead an did anything about it than I would if I never sold anything. Truth is, when I hit that button that says "open shop" I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. I was so excited and so anxious all at the same time. I am really proud of myself. Will I sell so many products that Ellen will just have to have me on her show... {shrug}... most likely not but here I am, putting myself out into the massive world of Etsy and it feels pretty great. Pop by, check out my handmade love, check out other's handmade love. There is so much amazing stuff out there just waiting to be discovered.

I don't want to end this post without saying a huge thank you to my sweet friend Jillian of Made By Jillian Rose, who designed my logo as well as  my shop header and my business card. She is amazing and I am so grateful that the universe brought us together all those years ago. xoxo.