Playing Big

What's Playing Big about?

• Empowerment Focus: Playing Big by Tara Mohr is a guide for women to overcome self-doubt and embrace their potential, focusing on finding their voice and pursuing personal aspirations.
• Inner Critic vs. Inner Mentor: The book introduces the concepts of the inner critic, representing self-doubt, and the inner mentor, embodying wisdom and guidance.
• Practical Strategies: It offers practical exercises and insights to help women navigate fears, communicate powerfully, and take bold actions in their careers and lives.

Why should I read Playing Big?

• Transformative Insights: The book provides valuable insights into psychological barriers that prevent women from pursuing their dreams, encouraging them to challenge limiting beliefs.
• Practical Tools: Mohr offers actionable strategies for managing the inner critic and cultivating the inner mentor, making it a practical resource for growth.
• Empowerment for Women: It is particularly relevant for women seeking to assert themselves in various aspects of life, inspiring them to define and pursue their own success.

What are the key takeaways of Playing Big?

• Understanding Self-Doubt: Recognizing the pervasive nature of self-doubt and how it manifests as the inner critic is crucial for personal empowerment.
• Accessing Inner Wisdom: The book teaches how to connect with the inner mentor, a source of wisdom and guidance for navigating challenges.
• Embracing Fear: Mohr distinguishes between pachad (fear of imagined threats) and yirah (fear associated with growth), helping women embrace fear that comes with pursuing true aspirations.

What is the inner critic, according to Playing Big?

• Definition: The inner critic is the voice of self-doubt that tells women they are not good enough or ready to pursue their goals.
• Characteristics: It is harsh, binary, and repetitive, focusing on perceived failures and shortcomings, leading to inaction.
• Impact on Women: The inner critic can prevent women from sharing ideas and pursuing dreams, creating a cycle of self-doubt and fear.

How can I shift from my inner critic to my inner mentor in Playing Big?

• Label the Critic: Simply labeling the inner critic when it appears can help create distance from its negative messages.
• Visualize Your Inner Mentor: Engaging in guided visualization helps access a more supportive and wise voice within.
• Ask for Guidance: Asking, “What would my inner mentor do?” aligns actions with true aspirations rather than succumbing to fear.

What is yirah, and how does it differ from pachad in Playing Big?

• Definition of Yirah: Yirah is a Hebrew term for fear associated with growth, awe, and the divine, felt when stepping into a larger space.
• Definition of Pachad: Pachad is the fear of imagined threats and potential failures, leading to avoidance and inaction.
• Embracing Yirah: Recognizing the difference empowers women to take bold actions, welcoming yirah as a sign of growth.

What are some practical tools from Playing Big to manage self-doubt?

• Inner Critic Tools: Strategies include labeling its voice, creating a character for it, and practicing self-compassion.
• Accessing Inner Wisdom: Techniques like visualization exercises and journaling prompts help tap into inner guidance.
• Fear Management Techniques: Methods such as deep breathing and inviting love into challenging situations shift focus from fear to action.

What are the best quotes from Playing Big and what do they mean?

• Potential Recognition: “You are the woman who—it’s clear to us—could start an innovative company...” emphasizes recognizing one's capabilities.
• Managing Self-Doubt: “The goal isn’t to get rid of your inner critic...” highlights acknowledging the inner critic while taking action.
• Empowerment and Change: “Playing big is not about climbing the ladder...” encapsulates empowerment and making meaningful contributions.

How does Playing Big address the issue of praise and criticism?

• Unhooking from Praise: Mohr emphasizes not relying on external validation for self-worth, finding fulfillment in the work itself.
• Managing Criticism: Strategies for dealing with criticism include filtering feedback and incorporating what is useful.
• Empowerment Through Self-Validation: Focusing on self-expression and service allows women to reclaim authority over their work.

How does Playing Big define a calling?

• Longing to Address Needs: A calling is a deep longing to address a particular need or problem in the world, often with a sense of purpose.
• Variety of Callings: Callings can manifest in various forms, from community service to creative endeavors, and need not be grand.
• Personal Fulfillment: Pursuing one’s calling is linked to personal fulfillment and the desire to contribute positively to society.

What are some common hiding strategies women use, as discussed in Playing Big?

• “This Before That”: Creating false sequences of actions that must occur before pursuing goals, leading to procrastination.
• Designing at the Whiteboard: Working in isolation without feedback, resulting in unproductive efforts.
• Overcomplicating and Endless Polishing: Adding unnecessary complexity or endlessly revising work prevents taking action.

How can I take leaps, as suggested in Playing Big?

• Definition of a Leap: A leap is an action that gets you playing bigger now, completed within one to two weeks, stepping out of comfort zones.
• Learning Focus: Each leap should have a learning goal, gathering insights and feedback from the intended audience.
• Examples of Leaps: Examples include hosting a workshop, reaching out to potential clients, or sharing work with a broader audience.