Anyone else have a love/hate relationship with fear? (You know I do.)
Sometimes I hate it. Sometimes I love it. Sometimes I don’t know what to do with it (or what to think about it) until I write a blogpost about it. My husband also likes to scare the crap out of me with all of his adventurous shenanigans.
None of us are exempt from feeling fear. Lately, I’m trying to befriend it. (Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer they say…) But seriously: Befriending fear just might be the answer. For all of us.
Years ago (when I first started blogging), I saw TV personality and celebrity mom Brooke Burke-Charvet speak at a conference… she talked about how she purposely seeks out projects and opportunities that scare her, because fighting through fear (and conquering it) is the most productive way [for her] to learn and grow. I remember hearing her words and feeling equal parts immeasurably-inspired, absolutely scared $hitless and totally alive.
I made myself a promise that day:
Say yes to things that scare you. Fight through fear. Come out the other side.
(If for nothing else than to set an example for my kids… so that they don’t grow up to be ‘fraidy cats like me.)
What’s the worst that can happen? I fail?
Which is why I’ll be giving the opening keynote speech at this year’s ConnectHER conference this next weekend.
Everyone laughs at me? Everyone whispers “What-the-hell-was-that” to each other right after I finish? Yes. Say yes to things that scare you. Fight through fear. Come out the other side.
A few hundred of Southern California’s premiere mompreneurs, sought-after brands, PR powerhouses & internet-famous influencers will be sizing me up and down while sipping on coffee and noshing on sweet rolls… wondering what the heck I have to say that’s so important, relevant, insightful and (hopefully) inspiring. Keep in mind that many of the women attending this conference are light years ahead of me in the digital space when it comes to blog traffic, social media followers and general gravitas and moxie in the Make-Things-Happen Department. (How this all came about is still beyond me…. Me?!?!?! You want ME to speak to THIS group of women?!?!?!?)
My answer? I’m all fired up and fine tuning it as we speak. And yes, I’m a bit scared $hitless. (I mean, I’ve given a hundred speeches for all kinds of audiences: philanthropic groups, youth orgs, business conferences… but never in front of my professional PEERS. This is different…)
But I said yes… and I’m committed to fight… and come out the other side.
Because what’s the worst that can happen? I fail?
Even the worst fails are the most productive way to learn, grow and reposition yourself for success. Trust me, I’ve got a few stories to tell…
Which is why I’ll be talking about FAILS. Fails, fear and forward-motion. We’ve all got it, we all fight it and we all can make the most of it. Here’s hoping it’s fabulous.
Follow #ConnectHER15 on Twitter (especially Sunday, July 26) and get in on the conversation!
