Tough (Question) Tuesday: What would you do if you weren’t scared?
Pen’s Dear John letter to fear, found via Magpie Girl
I’ve been realizing lately that fear is not the enemy – it’s just a roadblock that I’m meant to kick over in it’s big, fat, stupid face. And while I’m friggin’ scared about dumping Corporate America (forever!), & I’m scared that I’m gonna fall flat on my face at this whole self-employment thing, I’m oh so excited & oh so trustful that this is gonna work (goddamit!).
So, dream with me for a moment, & answer the question:
What would you do if you weren’t scared?
Come join me in the comments section. Don’t be scared (sorry – couldn’t resist).
Tags: Tough (Question) Tuesday
March 23rd, 2010 at 3:14 am
If I wasn't scared, I'd apply for all the freelance jobs I look at online whose specifications I don't fit exactly. I'd bang out blog posts multiple times a week instead of leaving unfinished pieces of writing as drafts in my journal. Sounds like the next step is to stare down the fear and do that stuff anyway, huh?
March 23rd, 2010 at 3:26 am
Kylie, I can't tell ya that answer, silly lady! But what I can tell ya is that if the fear is the ONLY thing that's stopping you, then it's so time to kick it's ass by doing it anyway. Won't that be so gratifying? Seeing fear just sobbing in the corner, disrespected & ignored? Love it.
March 23rd, 2010 at 4:27 am
I have realized lately how much fear paralyzes me and how much it's keeping me from being the best person I can be! I've noticed that I let this fear creep in…then that causes negativity…and then I'm in a bad place! What would I do if I wasn't scared? I think the list is too long to write here…but I know it's time to step up to the plate and stop being afraid (and stop making mountains out of molehills!)
Thanks for this post, Michelle–it's incredibly timely.
March 23rd, 2010 at 4:56 am
Michelle, What a great prompt. #1 on my list of things I would do if I wasn't scared would be to start planning for my trip around the world already. Why let some silly things like jobs, house, dog, $$ get in the way.
I wrote a blog post about it here: http://lifewithoutexcuses.wordpress.com/2010/03/2….
Thanks!
March 23rd, 2010 at 5:46 am
Like Krista, I think my list would be too long to write here. But thank you for this question today. I do know that fear is one of my biggest blocks. Fear of failure, specifically…I'm working on it though
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:29 am
Love this question Michelle! But it's a toughie to answer. I keep finding that half the time I'm not even aware that I'm afraid of something, I have all kinds of other 'sensible' reasons that I'm not doing something. So, I think that this is a good question to ask myself regularly, b/c it tends to draw out the real reason that I'm not doing things – which is that I'm scared.
A few of those:
Visit my home country where I haven't been for 6 years – but I recently faced my fear and booked the plane ticket. This is crazy to admit, but I realized I'm scared to spend 10 days in my parents' home (they make me feel small – the feeling I fear the most). Hopefully one day, I'll be able to pay to stay in a hotel when I visit, for now I'm just gonna try to get through it and enjoy all that will be good about it.
Really and seriously think about what I want to do when I grow up. And so I can do something other than steam milk for a living (I work at a cafe). Maybe someday I'll be able to hire you as a coach
Until then, thanks for your inspiring posts!
I hope your week is going well and that you're enjoying being away from corporate life
March 23rd, 2010 at 7:15 am
I think if I weren't scared I would put myself out there more — work more on self-promotion and making connections. But I have a plan for that (um, thanks to YOU!). I think that if I can create things I'm proud of, then the self-promotion piece will come naturally and will still feel authentic.
Oh, and I'd move to France, but then I'd surely miss my boyfriend. So I'm just working on a plan to have him come with me
March 23rd, 2010 at 7:22 am
This is a great question Michelle! I would probably reinvent my whole entire life and live with no regrets…oh wait I'm doing that already!! But fear does get in the way, soI would rely more on my inner guidance and kick fears a$$ to the curb. I would also write the content for an upcoming launch with no hesitation because it's not about me anymore.
March 23rd, 2010 at 7:33 am
The thought of fear "sobbing in the corner, disrespected & ignored" is like, the image of the week.
And I know that this is a very simple answer, but it is my honest answer. I would swim. In the deep end. After diving in. The deep end.
March 24th, 2010 at 4:10 am
@Krista – Applause, applause! Just make sure you deal with Fear so that he's, as I said below, "sobbing in the corner, disrespected & ignored"? I find that, for myself, I can't just give Fear a karate kick to the crotch – I have to formulate a plan to bring him to his knees before I can authentically tell him to go eff off. This has become very hostile all of a sudden.
@Julie – Off to read your post right now! How awesome. And YES, start planning for that trip – so exciting! Figure out how you can make it work under your circumstances, & even if you don't take it for another 10 years at least you'll know now that you're taking a trip around the world in 10 years!
@Alisha – Fear of Failure is one of my best friends! Oddly enough, he usually goes hand in hand with Fear of Success. So weird, but that's absolutely what I've found! You might want to ask yourself what the absolutely worse-case scenario would be if you failed. Would you wind up a bag lady? Would you have a lot of egg on your face? Really imagine this scenario as a really detailed one, & see what comes up for you during it. I'd love to hear how it goes!
@Jadyn – That's why I named it Tough (Question) Tuesday!
Seems like you're well on your way to slaying at least one of your Fear Vampires. Good for you in booking your ticket back home, & acknowledging what your challenge will be in going there. I love your perspective of "enjoying all that will be good about it." Maybe it's worth keeping a Good Stuff journal during your time there & recording all those good moments? It might be nice to really let it all sink in. Oh! And I'm gonna be offering my scholarship soon….stay tuned!
@Tiffany – Love it – making sure to work on things that you're proud of. That is so the key, ain't it? I know how super proud I am of being a full-time creative career coach & I'll tell anyone who'll listen! And, uh, if you move to France you better have a spare bedroom for my extended visits
@Angela – Write it, write it! And doesn't the "it's not about me" perspective just so, so help? When you make it about doing something fulfilling for yourself that's beneficial for others…such an ass-kicker!
@Natalyn – I'm so with you! This is when I wish I was an artist
So….what's stopping you from jumping in the deep end & swimming? That's another image of the week!
March 26th, 2010 at 9:34 am
[...] Michelle from When I Grow Up Coach quit her day job to pursue dreams of self-employment. I really enjoy her honesty around what scares her about her new life. I wrote about it a couple days ago, but here’s the original link to her post! [...]
March 28th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Wow! Great question. If I wasn't scared I'd audition for American Idol and win.
Of course, right?
-Taryn
March 29th, 2010 at 8:17 am
I would jump into my unfinished plan feet first in a sink or swim method. But pesky rent, groceries, health insurance, and not ever wanting to move back in with my parents gets in the way. And of course, the fear of not being able to afford those things. Fear of falling on my butt and being embarrassed by failure? Not a huge deal. Beyond the financial issue, my ego is pretty shot (that soul sucking cubicle again) so bring it on.
March 29th, 2010 at 9:26 am
@Taryn – Ha! But of course! Even Simon couldn't stop you (not to mention he won't be there next season)!
@Magchunk – Love it! Woo hoo! So how can you pad the financial peace to make it safer for you? Figure it out & get to it – that'll be your key to finishing your Plan & feeling like you're kicking it's ass!