Did you know that the first time I did a Facebook live, I was so scared that I peed my pants?
Okay, maybe that’s a little more information than I normally share, but it’s the truth — and I want you to know it. Because I was talking to a Free Mama a few days ago, and she told me, “Well, of course this all works for you. You’re not scared of anything!”
I laughed out loud.
A lot of things scare me, because — hello! — I’m human. But I’ve learned, over the years, to work with my fear, rather than letting it paralyze me. I’ve learned how to embrace fear.
I use logic.
When that fear reaction kicks in, I make a really conscious effort to use the logical part of my brain. I think about experiences I’ve had — and lived through — before, and draw on those experiences. I look at the things I’ve managed to do successfully before, and I let that proof lift me up. I focus on the things I do know how to do, and build on that knowledge.
When I started thinking about the 3-day Free Mama Retreat, I was terrified — it’s kind of a big deal to ask 100 women to fly in from all over! But when I turned to my logical brain, I acknowledged that I worked as a successful event planner for years. I know how to build a thriving community. I know how to inspire women to take action. And armed with that logic, I pushed past the fear and started planning.
I ask for help.
It’s completely natural to be afraid of something new, something high-stakes, that you’ve never done before. But you’re probably not the very first person in the world to try it, right? There’s most likely someone who has successfully done the thing you’re afraid of doing, so why not ask that person for help?
I look to coaches and mentors in my business and my life. Whenever I’m facing something that I’ve never done, when I feel like I don’t know where to start, I always consult someone who has walked the path before me. They know where the obstacles are — and how to move past them.
I remember my why.
There are days whenI feel overwhelmed. When what I need to do next seems so utterly impossible that a tiny part of me whispers, “You can’t do this. It’ll never work.”
Those are the days I have to go back to my why. The reason I started this whole thing in the first place. The feeling I had when I bought this house, and made a promise to my daughter that I would walk her to school every day.
Walking Daphne (and now Henry!) to school, being present for Audrey, having the time for my husband — these matter to me. They drive me to push straight through the fear when there’s no other way. They taught me how to embrace fear. Are you ready to learn how to embrace fear?
Think it through, Mama. What’s the worst that can happen?
And if you do pee your pants, you’re in good company. 😉
Don’t forget to watch the latest episode of FreeMamaTV – the best VA jobs of 2019!