my story: driving Tora

My car died. (and this isn't my car)

So Adam and I have been sharing his car, who we named Tora (this is Tora). She looks like a regular car, right?

But she's a stick shift.

Adam has been trying to teach me to drive stick for over 4 years. And I never did. I was never comfortable. It was never fun. I didn't enjoy lurching around, or getting honked at, or sliding backwards on a hill. And even Adam will say that Tora isn't an easy stick to drive.

But when my car died, I had to drive Tora. My brain didn't want to. I missed my car. Why did we buy a car I can't drive? Why did it have to be so hard? I was going to be stuck in the house. I had lost my freedom. My brain was entrenched. I felt trapped.

So I went to my coach about it. (shoutout to @kathleenlayer)

She helped me poke holes in my story. Could I really not do it? Was I really stuck in the house? I could bike or walk. I realized I was hating Tora for my car being gone. That's where my brain was. So I had to forgive her. And I had to forgive myself for putting off learning how to drive stick. And I had to let go of the embarrassment of getting honked at. I decided that happening didn't mean anything about me. I was just learning how to drive a new way.

And then I had an event across town. It would have meant 2 hours of driving for Adam if I needed him. So I decided Tora and I would go alone.

I set myself up for success - I gave myself an extra 45 minutes, just in case. I turned on my favorite music, got the seat just how I wanted it. I cheered myself on every step of the way - even during the hills and honks.

And I made it. No real issues. I was so proud of myself.

So what are you fighting against? Is your story really true? How could you set yourself up for success and cheer yourself on as you do something new?