I’ll admit it. It scares the hell out of me. To step into the unknown. To take a path I’ve never taken before.
It started off like any normal day. I had a meeting, had a client, and—inspired by yesterday’s post—decided to clean out my entire inbox. Really work through all of the e-mails I’d be pushing to the bottom of the list. Until my inbox was at zero.
As I pushed through all of the tasks I had to do, like create a feedback survey for my blogging course and write an article for my book launch, I felt my heart pick up the pace a little bit. More and more e-mails started coming in. Book signings, interviews, client e-mails. I started digging through them more rapidly, determined to get them done. My calendar started filling up with these events. My task list was growing, not shrinking.
And it finally hit me that my book was coming out in exactly two weeks. Two weeks to get it all done.
Boom—the panic had taken full hold of me. My heart was pounding. And I desperately just wanted to run under the covers and hide.
“Is my book any good? Will anyone even like it?” And “What if I get terrible feedback on my blogging course?” And “When will I ever get all of my tasks done.” And “What if no one shows up to my book singings.” And “How will I ever get to a landline for a radio interview?”
I let the fears wash over me. I got up, shut down everything I was doing, and decided to go for a walk. And, as I trotted on down the street, I realized that this was my book. This was, appropriately, the chapter all about fear. All about doing the things you’re most afraid of. The things that push you out of your comfort zone. The things that lead you to a—well, breakdown.
See, a breakdown isn’t about being emotionally weak. It’s about breaking down toxic and outdated emotional patterns that no longer serve you, so you can breakthrough with new growth opportunities.
These fears were the old me. The scared me. The one who isn’t used to having a book out there. And a book release party and signings and radio interviews and successful courses. And he’s scared as hell about moving forward here.
Because it’s new territory. Because he doesn’t feel safe. Because maybe he’ll mess it up. Maybe he’ll fail. Maybe he won’t be perfect.
There’s only one big difference between people who go after their dreams and people who don’t. They’re both scared as hell. The only difference is that one group moves forward anyway and the other doesn’t. That’s it. It’s not any easier for anyone.
We all have an instinctive desire to stay in what we know. Our bodies want us to be safe and protected. But, the truth is, expansion is our birthright. It’s our life purpose. It’s our only path to success and happiness.
It’s how we continue unfolding and sharing ourselves with the world.
So, yeah, I’m terrified. I’m moving into new spaces—like a speaker who gets paid a lot of money for just being myself. And a published author who has launch parties and book signings. And a course teacher with many students. And everything else that I’m stepping into.
And it scares the hell out of me. To step into the unknown. To take a path I’ve never taken before. To let myself grow as big as I’m meant to.
And, with each step I take, I feel a little bit stronger. A little bit braver. A little bit more ready to keep expanding.
I’m acknowledging the fear. I’m thanking the fear. And I’m moving forward anyway. Because, more than anything, I deserve it. I deserve all of it. And I’m continuing to grow into who I really am.
So look at yourself. Look at your own life. Look at the areas that you’re terrified of. The places that give you panic attacks. The spots that feel too scary to keep moving forward. And know that your fears are outdated—that they’re old limiting beliefs that no longer apply to you. And that you’re ready to totally blow your view of yourself out of the water.
It’s okay to be scared. It’s natural to be scared. It can never be courageous if you aren’t scared in the first place.
But you’re a person who goes after his/her dreams. And that means that, as scared as you are, you move forward anyway. You always move forward.
Take my hand. Let’s move forward together. I support you. And I know you’re supporting me.
Originally published at bostonwellnesscoach.com.
Photo: hikingartist.com