At some point the thing that you’re doing “in the meantime” starts preventing you from getting to the thing that you actually aspire to be doing. Even if you’re foggy about what that thing is, you sense its existence, and you know that this isn’t quite it.
The universe, in its abundance, will keep manifesting opportunities that are in line with your dharma. You are forced to turn down engagements because there’s only so much bandwidth.
Eventually we have to practice saying no — to the fill-ins, substitutes, the just-for-todays — so that we can show up. For the client, creative project, new job offer or partnership. We have to take a risk the way children do when they don’t yet know fear. Until it’s familiar, we feign bravery.
If we are hiding how can we know what we’re truly capable of? And if we’re hiding how can we earn, receive, ask for what we are worth? We can’t. But wherever we are, however imperfect it may seem, we can practice. We can articulate our needs, do our best, find ways to spread our wings. If we put out the call, our guides will find us.