About five years ago, I began what turned out to be one of the most challenging periods of my career.  After 10 years of successful business partnership, I launched a new solo consulting practice.  While this truly was right timing, the economy was in a tenacious recession and consulting services like mine were considered a luxury in even the most forward-thinking organizations.

Proactive by nature, I immediately launched an “all-hands-on-deck” business development strategy-my hands, of course, being the only ones involved.  I proceeded to labor, day and night-networking, writing, speaking, proposing-all in an enthusiastic effort to quickly birth a healthy new consulting practice.

What I really began was one of the longest, most frustrating years of my life. Taking proactivity to a whole new level-a “wheel spinning” one-my actions became more anxiety-driven with each passing week. The stress was tremendous. What I didn’t remember, even after years of coaching others, is that it can take time-sometimes a long time-to develop a new business.

Eventually, about 18 months in, tangible progress came.  I was offered what developed into a series of wonderful long-term projects-more challenging work than I’d been prepared for in the past-and with it, a great new client base, well worth the wait.

What I hadn’t realized during the long period of “nothing happening” was that an essential process was actually taking place:

I was becoming a much stronger, more seasoned and empowered consultant.

As I reflect on those first 18 months, I spent about 95% of my time “doing” (networking, writing, speaking, proposing) and about 5% “being” (meditating, journaling, visioning).  I believe that a 50/50 split would’ve better served me, not just making my journey more pleasant, but perhaps also bringing quicker results.

I’ve learned that when anxiety is knocking at the door (or camping in one’s living room), it’s often best to pursue “being-type”activities.  Here are a few of my favorites:

• sit quietly, close your eyes and relax; observe your breathing for a few minutes
• gently ask yourself what you most want and record your responses in a journal
• spend 30 minutes doing anything out in nature
• visit an art museum and stroll the galleries

Like a caterpillar, time in a cocoon (of nothing seeming to be happening) can be a lonely experience or one of joyful expectation-it all depends on one’s ability to trust the natural power of transformation.  I encourage you to trust it.