Follow your delusion

A coaching client said the most magical phrase in one of our sessions once. You know those moments where someone says something and you get chills all over and think, “Someone write that shit down!”

“Follow your delusion” she said. We were talking about a big idea she had for her life and how crazy it felt. How many people would look at her and say, “Are you sure you want to do that?” And as she grounded into how big and powerful and clear the vision actually was for her life, there was this freedom in her as she affirmed for herself to “follow her delusion.”

delusion: an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument

Two things stand out to me in that definition. The first is that your delusion may not be accepted by reality or rational argument. The status quo folks around you may question it or outright disagree with it entirely. And the second nugget is that you hold onto this belief and firmly maintain it despite this. Damn. Turns out following your delusion is not for the faint of heart!

So, as you pack up on your journey of reckless abandon and delusion, just be sure to have a few things with you…

Have a clear vision for what matters.

Have a bit of a structure of a plan for how you will get to your desired state.

Have, at minimum, an awareness for what the challenges will be. And ideally have a plan for how to mitigate and move around and through these challenges.

Have a group of advocates who will actively support you in your delusion and who believe in your dream too. Ignore the haters. Bring in your squad.

I don’t think following your delusion is necessarily an easy thing, but I do think it’s something we need to encourage more of. Who wants a world of people “doing what’s generally accepted” anyway?! Not me.