I’ve been thinking a lot of big thoughts lately. I guess that’s something to expect when you leave home and travel 7 430 km to unfamiliar territory to start a new job. One of these big thoughts have been dedicated to the theme of “fear”, which is why I felt it was suitable to post some of my findings (read ramblings) regarding this subject here.
For two days now, I’ve been pondering the question: “What would I do if I weren’t afraid?”
Well. If I weren’t afraid, I would say cheers to the bus driver when getting off the bus. I would have a conversation in Spanish with my South American neighbour. I would smile my best smile and strike up a conversation with the intimidatingly gorgeous guy working at that lunch restaurant I love. I would speak in front of an audience every chance I got. I would write a book. I would sing at the top of my lungs when my favourite song came on. I would dance at the train station when waiting for the train. I would jump out of an airplane. I would climb a mountain. And I would speak my mind, at all times.
So why don’t I?
For some reason I’m letting my fear of… of what? Is it rejection? Judgement maybe? Or failure even? Well, whatever it is, I’m currently allowing “it” to govern my actions. I’m currently letting “it” rule my life, all while pretending to myself that I’m really the one in charge. Ridiculous.
Am I the only one limited by this life crippling fear I wonder? Of course not.
So why do we let this fear of imagined outcomes keep us from doing what we really want to do and away from the life that we really want to live? What if all of us, little by little, began to ignore the piercing fear that is telling us to stay inside where it’s warm, to only walk on roads well known, and to never, ever, do anything other than the things you know you’re already good at? What if we were bold enough to challenge our fears? I’m confident that if we did, not only would we change our own lives to the better, but we would also change the world.
I have decided to start with the small things. So yesterday I signed up for a course in story telling and presentation technique to show my fear that I’m the one in charge. And today, today I roundhouse kicked that dark shadow of anxiety and worry straight out the back exit at my very first one-on-one kickboxing session at an unfamiliar (for now) boxing club in downtown Vancouver. I tell you, it feels pretty great.
Now my friend, what will you do today even though you’re afraid?
Braver than me. 