Lessons learned by blowing my chance to meet Elizabeth Gilbert

 
Elizabeth Gilbert speaks into microphone and Jill Allison Bryan smiles in the crowd

When I saw that the Lotus Network was hosting a VIP reception with the opportunity to meet Elizabeth Gilbert prior to her talk in Denver I followed my “Hell Yes!” intuition and bought a ticket immediately. 

She’s long been on my top 10 list of women I’d love to meet. 

I was thrilled for the chance to tell Liz face-to-face how much her book, “Big Magic ~ Creative Living Beyond Fear,” had helped me and many of my clients on our creative journeys. 

I purchased my plane ticket, booked my hotel room and rented a car.

I arrived at the reception right on time. 

I snapped a photo when she was introduced ~ so excited that I was about to get to meet her in person!!! (see photoshopped version above🤣)

An announcement was made to line up for the meet and greet photo-op and a crowd formed.

Chatting with some women, I thought, “I’ll just let the line die down.” 

A bit later as I made my way up front I heard:
“Times up. No more photos. No more chances to meet Elizabeth Gilbert. You blew it, Jill!” 

Well, they didn’t really say that - but that’s what I heard. 🤣 

My heart sank. 

Liz walked out of the room no more than two feet in front of me.

I think I may have said aloud, “Nooooooooooo…” 

Everything went into slow motion.

I felt a little nauseous. 

The Lotus Network women were so kind and apologetic ~ though, of course, it wasn’t their fault in the least.

It was 100% my own. 

So I did what you do, when you blow a once in a lifetime opportunity…

I beat myself up. 

I replayed an alternate scenario in my mind in which I did meet Liz Gilbert and we’re both delighted by our creative connection. 

I  beat myself up some more. 

The next morning I woke up with an awful feeling lingering in the pit of my stomach. 

Then I went into self-coaching mode.

I named the feeling ~ REGRET. 

Then I reminded myself I’m human and humans make mistakes and I forgave myself.

Then ~ I got curious. 

What’s the lesson here? (I mean ~ there has to be a lesson here, right ~ because otherwise WTH?!?)

After a long walk and a few tears ~ the AHA! came to me. 

I let myself be distracted. 

I forgot WHY I was there ~ to meet Liz Gilbert. 

This can happen with our creative dreams!

We’re so excited at the start. We make a plan. We begin heading toward our dream.

And then we get distracted. 

We forget our WHY. 

Sometimes when we forget our why, we miss out on the opportunity all together. 

As a creativity coach, I teach you empowering ways to prioritize your dreams, remember your why and not let yourself be distracted ~ so you can bring your creative vision to life with no regrets. 

Want to learn how I didn’t allow the Elizabeth Gilbert debacle to keep me bumped off my creative path for too long?

Click here to save your seat and join me for my next Magic Action Masterclass: The Path from Creative Dreams to Reality.

And in the meantime ~ as I think Liz would advise me and you both ~ be true to yourself and be kind to yourself. 

Onward! 

🌟💖🌟

Jill 

P.S. ~ Know for certain that you don’t want to experience the regret of never having gone for your creative dreams? 

Check out the Magic Action for Multi-passionate Creatives Coaching Cohort to learn how weekly coaching can help you turn your creative dreams into your new reality. 

And be sure to save your seat for my next Magic Action Masterclass: The Path from Creative Dreams to Reality.

 
 
Jill Allison Bryan