Be Scared and Do It Anyway
What does this mean? I feel like this phrase has led me to this very moment of typing this post. It has been so important to me to really be mindful of the things that I am saying to myself as I come from a long line of fear, anxiety, self-doubt and negative self-talk. Even right now, I am scared to type this and expose the true and raw nature of what is going on inside of my brain.
I grew up believing that we don't show the "bad" parts of ourselves to the light. It is a little sad that the reality of these "bad" parts were really just a reflection of what was deemed outside of societal norms. I really think that my parents really only just wanted (and maybe still do) to be considered "normal". They, like everyone else, are on their own journey and doing the best they can with what they know. I bring this up because what we hear as children is what we tell ourselves as adults and creates the wires and patterns in our head that repeat what we learn. Until we make a mindful choice to pay attention to these thoughts, we will repeat everything.
"Be Scared and Do It Anyway." This sentence allows the fear to be there without putting any judgement on the feeling. It's ok to feel scared when trying something new and it's also okay to feel nervous when it's something done many times. Fear is there to keep us safe, however, the feeling does tend to get a little overzealous in this day and age so it's important to communicate with ourselves about what is going on. Pushing the fear away doesn't work, in fact, it tends to make it worse because now you are actively trying not to think about something making it the elephant in the room. Don't think about elephants. Don't think about their big ears, or their big bodies or their awesome trunks. Just don't do it. When you attempt to push the thought or feeling away, it tends to make it worse.
Do it Anyway. Allow the fear to be there. Give your fear the breath. Give the mind love, nurturing and patience that we would give to our very best friend. I am a little less scared than I was during the first paragraph, but it is still there; breathe in, breathe out. Working through these things won't always be easy, in fact, it very seldom is easy, but it has always been worth it. Pushing through fear allowed me to teach my first yoga class, to offer my first public tarot readings, to train and offer sound healings and so much more. Teaching and offering these things still are scary to me sometimes but I want to share what has helped me blossom and grow in hopes that it will help others do the same in their own ways.
My fear with writing is the same as the original fears. I cried writing my biography. I felt embarrassed because I felt vulnerable and had to really sit down with my self-worth. Still needs some work, but that's okay, that's what I will do. I want to be able to inspire people to be exactly who they are because being different is so special. It makes the world interesting and better. That is the example that I want to be for my son, my family and my friends.
Do it anyway. First, do no harm, of course. Second, be unapologetic in creation and self-expressions. Wear whatever clothes that bring smiles and "spark joy". Make the food that looks like heaven and makes mouths water. Do art in as many mediums as possible. Take the trips to the places that make hearts sing just thinking about them. Be the full expression of ourselves, we owe it to ourselves to at least try. Do the next baby step forward. Write the blog. Be scared, do it anyway.
I said this phrase to my teacher when we were talking about mantras that have helped us. She replied, "Do you know what the word is for doing something even though you are scared? It's courage."
Namaste & Blessed Be
