Have you ever wanted to start something new but felt scared? Have you ever wanted to learn something but felt worried about not being good? Have you ever wanted to launch something but couldn’t stop thinking about what others would think? Well homegirl, you are not alone. I have felt that same way more times than I can count. Here are some tips that help me to just do it scared!
1. Personal Development
This one may be cheesy to some, but I am a personal development junkie. Give me all the self-help podcasts, books, blog posts, etc. These really help me find new ways to think about life and myself. Even reading autobiographies and learning about how other people (especially women) have persevered and done great things always inspires me. It reminds me that I’m not the only one who is scared, and, it assures me that if they can do it, so can I.
2. Find Accountability Partners
Surround yourself with people who want you to succeed. These should be people that you can share your big, secret, scary goals with and who will cheer you on. People who will check in on you to make sure that you are doing what you said you would do. People who will help pick you up even when you do fail. I have several people that I go to on a regular basis. When I have an idea or make something cool, I run (not walk) to them and they are always there to support me.
3. Let Go of Perfection
Go ahead – take a big gulp because I know that we’ve all been there. Especially in this age of social media where we see these “highlight reels” of people’s lives and businesses. Everything looks so pretty with those fancy filters, made beds, and perfect charcuterie boards (aka fancy Lunchables). We have to remind ourselves that it isn’t real. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to start unfollowing or hiding those accounts from your feed. For real! Like now! Don’t allow what other people’s success looks like to determine what your own success should look like.
4. Journal
When I am having a really bad day and just can’t get out of my head, I go to my journal. I write down all of those crazy things that I tell myself (sometimes while crying). I try to be as vulnerable and as honest as possible with my true feelings in that moment. If you aren’t used to journaling your feelings, this may be difficult at first. Once you get the hang of it, it’s truly a great release. It beats vomiting your inner most crucial thoughts to someone else (other than a licensed therapist). Sometimes I reread what I journaled right after I’m done and it helps me realize that what I am feeling is just not true.
5. FAIL!
Someone wise once said “If you’re not failing, you’re not growing.” How profound! I’ve launched many businesses, started secret Etsy shops, set up a million Instagram accounts, and created a dozen website templates. All of these things have helped me find what works and what doesn’t.
This doesn’t just apply to business – how many times have you failed as a mom? Ugh! I don’t even want to think about it, but that’s how we learn. There will always be bumps along the way, but pick yourself up and figure out what you can do better next time.
So, go do the thing that you’ve been terrified to do. Launch that business, write that blog post, try that new parenting technique, learn how to paint, give that hard yoga pose a try and let me know how it goes.
