The last time I was standing in the middle of the street, naked…
Ok, so maybe it just FELT like I was standing naked for the entire freaking world to see (and judge) me. BUT STILL!
Here's what happened.
It was time to "go public" with my coaching practice. Time to move the from the labor of love it had been for nearly a year...past the small network of trusted friends who knew what I was doing...to REALLY put myself and alllll of my messy shit out there for the world to see.
I was Scared. To. Death.
- What will people think?
-What will they say?
-Will they laugh at me?
-Will they think I'm an idiot for doing this?
-Will they judge my story or think less of me?
-Will I be embarrassed?
WHAT THE FUCK WAS I THINKING trying to do something like this anyway -- that's mostly what was on an obnoxious loop playing over and over in my head.
But the thing is -
I'd done everything I possibly could.
It wasn't perfect (because I'm a recovering perfectionist) but it was pretty damn excellent...and more importantly, it was time. Time to stop delaying and just DO IT Erika. For GOD SAKE'S it's not going to kill you.
I was talking to my friend and fellow coach, Melanie, when she said something that I hadn't thought about in a while, "feel the fear and do it anyway."
Well I was definitely feeling the fear...and soooooooooo didn't want to do it anyway.
I wanted to continue hiding. Pretending that I "wasn't ready" or that I needed to "fix" just one more thing. It's waaaaay easier to play small, right. What's wrong with just throwing it in the fuck-it-bucket and giving up anyway?!
Fear its a complex and extremely powerful emotion. But it really IS just a feeling. Fear can't physically HURT me. The only thing that "hurts" me is when I make it mean that the fear is more important than my goals, or dreams, or desires, or just plain being a badass. Is fear more important than those things?
NO.
Why would you deny yourself the opportunity to do more, be better, to grow, to engage, and ultimately to make an impact in this world?
Why would you choose to believe the limiting thought that you're not good enough?
Why would you allow fear to be more important than your dream?
Brené Brown teaches that "Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen."
So here I am, feeling the fear, being brave, having the courage to let myself be seen, and doing it anyway.
AND can I let you in on a little secret; it's not so bad after all. It's actually pretty exhilarating! I like courage. I like brave. I like badass. Come be a badass with me!
complementary coaching session
xo
Erika