Yong Pratt 0:00
Have you ever experienced a period of time after accomplishing a goal, especially a big one that you just felt? down? Yeah, me too. I call this period of time, the Post Goal Blues. And it's something our family is going through right now. In today's episode, I'm going to share with you why we're experiencing the Post-Goal Blues and allowing those feelings to come up, rather than my natural tendency to want to squash them down and trying to ignore them.

Yong Pratt 0:34
Have you ever felt like there was something missing in your business, something holding you back from the success you're seeking? If so, you are not alone, for nearly 20 years, and that's exactly how I felt as a business owner. It wasn't until I discovered Human Design, that it all became clear. And it turns out that I was the missing piece in my own business. Join me on this journey of discovering the real me and hear stories from other business owners building businesses around all of their awesomeness. I'm Yong Pratt, and it's time my friend to Amplify Your Awesome™.

Yong Pratt 1:20
Hey there Amplifiers! I want to thank you for tuning in to this podcast. I know you have lots of choices when it comes to listening. And I appreciate that you found your way here to today's episode. It's one that I don't think I've ever heard anyone else talk about in these particular terms, though I have experienced it loads of times. I honestly thought about not creating this episode, then I got over myself. Part of me wanted to keep what I've been feeling to myself buried away and hide rather than face the issue at hand. I've learned though, that whenever I run into resistance, and I've run into a lot recently, it usually means I need to lean in and address the issue at hand. But I need to do it head-on, even if I don't want to. I just wanted to do what I often do and bury my emotions I've been feeling and let them fester as they've so often done in the past. Then I thought of YOU. Knowing that at least one of you needed to hear this message today, I decided to face the elephant in my room. The big emotions I've been feeling and having for a couple of weeks now. For this episode to make sense and these feelings to make sense, I want to take you back to when these feelings hit me full force.

Yong Pratt 2:54
Two weeks ago, we watched expectedly as a storm brewed violently in the background. angry black clouds filling the darkening sky. The sweltering temperatures from earlier in the day disappeared and a chill fills the heavy air around us. The flags atop the announcers’ box, whipped and spun wildly. Multiple bolts of lightning struck in the distance warning of the impending storm. As our family sat uncomfortably on the hard metal bleachers surrounded by hundreds of others, we silently wished that the speakers on the stage would talk faster or just curtail their words before the skies opened up and drenched us. Holding tight for their caps, the graduates stirred in their seats expectedly as each row stood and made their way obediently to line up a stage right. The skies darkened.

Yong Pratt 3:58
One by one, they crossed the small platform stage as their names were announced. Faces beaming, they gratefully accepted their diplomas commemorating the end of their 13-year educational journey in just a few short moments. As my oldest, Sophie, posed for the camera and receive her diploma, hair whipping in the wind, a flood of thoughts and the full gamut of emotions hit me all at once.

Yong Pratt 4:29
Sophie at two, never sleeping so curious and ready to make her mark on the world.

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Sophie at six, lining up to leave me for an adventure at full-day school.

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Sofie at 12, planning and assisting me in dance classes at my performing arts school.

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Sophie at 16, newfound freedom with a driver's license

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Sophie at 17, graduating fifth in her class, Associates of Arts degree holder, full-ride scholarship recipient.

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Then the thoughts like...

Yong Pratt 5:09
Did we do enough? What if she's not prepared to leave the nest? Why didn't I print and display more pictures? Does she really know how proud we are of her? Why did I have to wear a dress that I'm now squeezing between my thighs as I try to capture every moment with my 35-millimeter camera?

Yong Pratt 5:30
The barrage of my own self-doubts as a parent intermingled with my overwhelming joy and excitement for Sophie was almost too much to bear. From the moment we arrived, we watched person after person get up and leave.

Yong Pratt 5:45
During the ceremony, which pummeled me with even more feelings and lots of feelings of sadness. I was sad for the kids whose families wouldn't see their kids or grandkids receive their diplomas, letting their fear of rain without over celebrating their kids’ victories. I was sad for the few graduates whose families didn't even make an attempt to show up and even fake a little support. I was sad for the graduates that deserved every single one of us to celebrate with them and celebrate their accomplishments.

Yong Pratt 6:21
The storm picked up with intensity, and as a final graduate was announced, the rain began falling slowly at first and then increasing in volume. And I was struck with two more thoughts. Can you believe it? More thoughts?

Yong Pratt 6:39
Number one, was the power and intensity of the brewing storm encapsulated the spirit of the graduating class of Spring Creek High School 2021. They are indeed a force to be reckoned with.

Yong Pratt 6:53
And number two, Mother Nature, so perfectly was reflecting back my inner emotions and putting them on display for everyone to see.

Yong Pratt 7:05
I still find it hard to believe that 17 years have come and gone so quickly. In a matter of months, Sophie will be out on her own, living independently and starting a new adventure. And I really couldn't be more proud of her.

Yong Pratt 7:22
As exciting as her next chapter will be. She's been moping around the house since graduation and honestly, so have I. We've both been experiencing what I like to call the Post-Goal Blues, and it goes something like this:

Yong Pratt 7:37
Set an awesome goal. Take action on achieving that goal, sometimes working on that goal for years. Complete the goal. Celebrate the goal with family and friends. Feel aimless until you've set the next goal that excites you. And then stress about the gravity of what the next goal will hold and everything you need to do to achieve it.

Yong Pratt 8:02
Holy smokes! That's a lot of feelings and emotions hitting us all at once. For Sophie, the emotions started peeking through in the weeks leading up to graduation. Her mood intensified as she drew closer to each final event. Her final prom, the class parade, graduation. And I'm sure they hit her all at once as they did me the moment she walked off the stage diplomas in hand.

Yong Pratt 8:36
Have you ever experienced the Post-Goal Blues?

Yong Pratt 8:40
I certainly have loads of times. I experience them at the end of every launch. At the end of working on a project with a one on one client. At the end of every class or experience I'm privileged to guide. And now with Sophie's graduation, and the imminent departure from the family home to embark on her next chapter, which means a changing role for me in her life.

Yong Pratt 9:08
I've finally accepted that experience in the Post-Goal Blues is just part of the process. As a content creator, as a person living and experience, it's okay for you to experience them, too.

Yong Pratt 9:24
There have been many times when I've tried to ignore or squash those feelings of discomfort after achieving goals. I don't think most of us grew up in environments where feelings other than happy ones were encouraged. And this couldn't be more true than in a traditional educational setting.

Yong Pratt 9:45
Here's a few examples of what I'm talking about here. Mad about something? Don't you dare experience those feelings in a way that could affect others! Hold it in. We're told, don't speak about it. And if you do that would be consequences like a visit to the principal's office.

Yong Pratt 10:04
Sad about something? Cry to yourself in the shower. Just don't let anyone else see you.

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Annoyed with someone? Just hold it in. We're told you don't want to offend anyone after all.

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These are the messages I received about feelings growing up. What about you?

Yong Pratt 10:26
Understanding that the Post-Goal Blues can take any shape or any emotion, and it's just part of the journey doesn't always make it easier to sit with the feelings. For me now, I realize that when I show up here and share openly and honestly with you when I demonstrate that I'm a real person with real feelings and experiences, it honestly helps me get out of the funk of my own Post-Goal Blues.

Yong Pratt 10:58
Another thing that helps is being curious, and being on a mission to help you overcome your content, overwhelm, and instead create endless streams of income with the content you've already created. Knowing that you're on the other side of this podcast drives me,

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Walt Disney said, "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we're curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

Yong Pratt 11:32
As we wrap up this episode, I want you to hold on to Walt Disney's words today, or anytime you personally experienced the Post-Goal Blues. In those times, I want you to be curious. I want you to be of service and use those emotions. Use those feelings to share with your tribe. Let them know you experience these things, to be raw and vulnerable with them. And most importantly, I want you to be you and your awesome self. I want you to amplify all the things that make you awesome. And share that even when you're experiencing those Post-Goal Blues. Be patient with yourself and give yourself time and space to overcome the Post-Goal Blues in any way that feels good, or that serves you.

Yong Pratt 12:28
As we come to the end of this episode, I want to offer you an invitation. I would love for you to join me inside my Facebook community, the Arena of Awesome. I want you to come over and tell me the messages you learned about feelings when you were growing up, and how you've overcome your own Post-Goal Blues. I love hearing from you. And as a perpetual student, I'm always wanting to learn new ways to do just about everything.

Yong Pratt 13:02
Come and share your successes. Share your failures, so others can see it's okay to fail because we are never told that failure is a good thing. So let's fail forward together. I want you to come and share how you normalize the Post-Goal Blues, for yourself and for your family. Okay, my friend. I can't wait to see you there. Until then, go out there today and Amplify Your Awesome™! Cheers!

Yong Pratt 13:33
Thanks for tuning in, do the Amplify Your Awesome™ podcast. Let's continue this conversation inside my Facebook community the arena of awesome while it's still free and open to new members, come share your biggest takeaways and ahas. Plus, every week inside the Arena, you'll get access to me and I may even share content I don't share anywhere else. Until next time, my friend go out there today and Amplify Your Awesome™!