S6E40: You’re allowed to keep some things for you

Full transcript:

Good morning, happy Friday and welcome to the Language Confidence Project, the daily dose of language courage for people who love languages and those who really don’t, but have to learn one anyway. And today, I just wanted to send a really quick reminder to say that it’s absolutely okay to have things that you won’t give to your language, to your business, to your book, or whatever creative path you’re on. You don’t have to give everything.

Because so much of what we hear is about going all in. About pouring our whole selves into a project, to show commitment, to show how much we want it, to show how important it is, I don’t even know. And that can leave us feeling like anything we hold back, anything we keep for ourselves, is anti that. As though it undermines the dedication that we’re supposed to be showing.

But I don’t think that’s true.

I don’t think that’s fair.

Languages are not bestowed upon people because they gave up everything to prove their worth. Languages are acquired by people who take a series of predictable steps, consistently, over a sustained period of time, and don’t give up til they get to where they want to be.

There is no need, whatsoever, to go all in.

So what if we took a break from worrying about sacrifices and commitments for a while, and gave ourselves the opportunity to ask ourselves, what do you want to keep for yourself? What do you want to not do, not give, in your language learning?

I won’t study past… o ‘clock.

I won’t get angry with myself.

My budget for language learning this month, this year is x

And it’s not that everything needs a rule, and it’s not like these are binding, just as you probably have some flexibility in boundaries in work or friendships or other aspects of your life. You can choose, in the moment, to relax them, if that’s what you want to do. But it’s so helpful to define what you’re happy to commit to, happy to give up, happy to put resources to, and how much, whether that’s time, effort or money.  

It’s so helpful to know your limits.

Because you’re learning your language to grow. You’re learning your language to make your life better. And that doesn’t need to take over your whole life, or drain everything you have, or make you miserable. It’s not meant to leave you with nothing left, and it’s not meant to sit front and centre while you feel like you backslide in every other part of your life. That is not what you signed up for!

When you’re clear on what you’re happy with, it’s so much easier to feel free within your learning process. You won’t feel suffocated, you won’t feel resentful, and you won’t feel exploited by it. You’re in control of it.

And just a reminder that if you want more language courage every weekday, I’m releasing daily episodes on YouTube as well, and I would love to see you there! You can find me by typing in The Language Confidence Project, or the link is in the shownotes.

Have a wonderful day, have a wonderful weekend, and I will see you back here on Monday.