Is there an area in your life where you want to do something but are too afraid to go for it?
Maybe you are resisting something because you know it will be hard and are too afraid to step out of that comfortable place.
Doing hard things can be scary. But what’s worse is not challenging yourself at all. When we don’t take action, we become bored, stagnant and unfulfilled. Maybe you see others effortlessly taking on big challenges and tell yourself how you wish to be more like them. I’m here to tell you, you are like them. You can do all the things.
All you need is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Whether it’s asking your boss for a raise, taking a course, changing jobs, putting yourself out there, or whatever else it might be for you, it’s important to you if it’s on your mind.
Last week I did something that was definitely out of my comfort zone. I literally sent vomit emojis to my friends the moment it was done. I was sweating. It was awful! But I did it! And I hope it will make my next experience a little easier.
I fear putting myself out there, and last week, I gave my introverted self a challenge to post on LinkedIn. And yes, for the first time. Yikes!
I’m sharing this story because if you are like me, you want to do scary things. And procrastinating, planning, researching, and perfectionism are all things that keep us playing small. Yes, they feel safe, but how boring is that? And If I was able to push through my fear, so can you! And I will share with you how I did it.
I’ve been quiet for the last couple of years, working hard on my coaching program, website and blog, and I couldn’t be more excited about it and wanted to share it with my network.
I would have put myself out there much earlier but hiding behind the fact that my website was not ready seemed like the perfect excuse not to. Yes, I admit it. Staying in the zone of learning, procrastination and planning has been far more comfortable for me.
But not this year!
In 2023 my main objective is to plan less, monitor my perfectionism and be action-oriented. And I felt like posting on LinkedIn for the first time to share my news would be a good first step to get me closer to my goal of putting myself out there. It was hard; I’m not gonna lie.
But we can all do hard things! It’s how we grow. And it’s what makes us feel fulfilled.
I think my fear came from being nervous about reconnecting with my network after being out of the corporate world for so long. What will people think? Will they say I’m foolish for not going back to corporate? In other words, fear of judgment paired with imposter syndrome, the perfect pairing that could have prevented me from taking action.
I believe what helped me take this step is realizing that this journey is not about me.
Focusing on the impact I want to make in people’s lives takes away some of the fear. It takes the lens off of me and makes it all about the people I want to help, which feels a heck of a lot safer. And if I keep procrastinating, how can I inspire all those high-achievers out there to get off autopilot & design a career and life that has meaning and that they are excited to wake up to?
I’m human. I’m not perfect. But one thing I am is confident in what I offer and know that helping people is what I’m meant to do. And it’s time for me to step out of my comfort zone!
They say it’s a good thing when you’re a little scared or feel resistance. It’s an indication that the thing you’re thinking of doing matters, and you should just go for it!
If you’re like me, I bet you have things you think about doing but are not taking action on.
Here are some of the questions I find helpful when I contemplate taking action, and I hope you can benefit from them as well:
Where in your life are you stopping yourself from taking action?
What specifically is preventing you from taking action?
What is the worst-case scenario if you just went for it?
What is the likelihood that the worst-case scenario will happen?
And if it did happen, how could you handle it?
And lastly and most importantly, how would you feel if you never took action?
I bet some words that come up for you are; disappointment, regret, missing out and staying stuck. All of which are sucky and reasons to just go for it!
So if you’re ready…
What’s one small step you can do today to get you closer to your goal?
I hope this reflection urges you to push past your fears and do all the scary things! Because they matter. And they are important to you. And because you’re worth it!
Please share this with someone who you think might benefit from these questions.
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photo by cottonbro-studio
