I Was Almost Too Scared to Hit Publish

About this episode

Before you read…This post is the short, tidy version of this week’s Confessions of a Facilitation Artist episode. If you want the full emotional arc—including why I was genuinely afraid to hit publish this week—go listen to the episode for the raw, unedited story behind the words.

Today’s Topic: Workshopping Yourself

Today I’m talking about workshopping yourself: using the same tools we bring to groups to gently reset your own story, state, and next steps.

In this post, you’ll:

* Learn why “strategy” isn’t enough when you feel stuck.

* See how I used a simple self-workshop on a very wobbly night in my business.

* Get a tiny framework you can use this week to move from intention to action.

The Core Insight

When we’re stuck, we usually ask, “What’s my plan?” instead of, “What’s my story?”

Here’s the simple trio I use that I learned from Tony Robbins (yes, Tony Robbins):

* State: How you’re showing up right now (nervous, numb, energized). A two-minute reset—walk, stretch, shake, dance—helps you actually arrive in your own life.

* Story: The narrative you’re telling yourself about who you are and what’s possible (“I’m behind,” “I’m not cut out for this,” or “I can do hard things”).

* Strategy: The concrete steps you’ll take next. Strategy works after you’ve tended to state and story, not before.

When I recently launched a new offer and found myself obsessing over email stats and fantasizing about retreating back to safety of a full-time job. I realized I didn’t need one more tactic. I needed a new story about who I am while I do hard things.

My Own “Workshop Yourself” Moment

On the last night of my Deep Work Days email campaign, I sat down and asked myself: “What do I actually want here—and why?”

I started with:“I want to be a successful artist, facilitator and speaker.”

Then I asked “Why?” a few times until I hit the real stuff:

* I want people to stop sleepwalking through their days.

* I want my family and clients to see what’s possible when we live by design, not default.

* I want to reclaim time and joy for myself and for the people I serve.

From there, I rewrote my story as:“I am strong, I am steady, and I am successful.”

Strong: I can do hard, stretchy things…emotionally, mentally, physically, etc.Steady: I choose groundedness over emotional whiplash.Successful: I measure success by integrity and impact, not just metrics.

That one sentence didn’t solve everything, but it changed how I showed up: less frantic, more present, and more willing to keep going.

How To Workshop Yourself (In 10 Minutes)

Here’s a super simple version you can try this week:

* Pick one areaChoose a single area of your life that’s calling for attention—work, health, creativity, money, relationships, or fun. You can use this wheel of life tool to help.

* Name what you wantWrite one clear line: “I want to…” (launch the thing, feel less overwhelmed, move my body, reconnect with friends).

* Ask “Why?” five timesUnderneath your sentence, write “Why?” and answer it. Then ask “Why?” again. Do this about five times until you hit a reason that feels honest and almost tender.

* Rewrite your story in the presentTurn it into an “I am…” statement that feels like your next, truer version:

* “I am healthy and energetic.”

* “I am focused and spacious with my time.”

* “I am strong, steady, and successful.”

* Choose one tiny actionAsk: “If this story were true today, what is one small step I would take in the next 24–48 hours?” Make it so small it’s almost impossible not to do.

Pro Tip: Working with your LLM (e.g. Perplexity, ChatGPT) of choice can really help in step 4!

Your Next Step

If you’re craving a little structure and companionship for this, I’m hosting a FREE LIVE “workshop yourself” session where I’ll guide you through this process and help you turn your story into a short, doable action plan.

Between now and then, your invitation is simple:Pick one area, ask yourself “Why?” a few times, and write one present-tense story you’re willing to practice believing. Then take a single, tiny step that aligns with it.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit facilitationartist.substack.com