Fear-less — Unlikely Hero

Jul 18

Jul 18 Fear-less

I walked into the office and sat at the desk. It was my first day at my new job. A mix of emotions, including calm and excitement, were tumbling around inside. I wouldn’t say I was terrified. (Well, maybe there was a bit of terror mixed in there somewhere.) I realized I had earned the right to be there. I was experienced and qualified. I knew I could do the job. But I also knew there was a lot to learn. I was new to the organization, in a new town, working with a new team. We were enveloped in a global pandemic. Nothing in the world was normal. It took courage, a leap of faith, to make this move.

In his book “Who Moved My Cheese?”, Spencer Johnson posed the question, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”. That question can seem daunting. It invites you to imagine beyond your current reality and comfort zone. Once you have that vision, then what? It may be that you must move through fear to get to the desired destination. When you push ahead despite your fear you experience growth, victory and outcomes that enrich your life. Courage is the catalyst for your breakthrough. Faith is the fuel that propels you through.

There are seasons in my life when I am intimidated by the magnitude of what is before me, and discouragement threatens my resolve. I have found value in reflecting on the question: What have you done despite being afraid?

Let’s see…

…In 1988 I was afraid to go to DC for college.

…In 1994 I was afraid of becoming a parent.

…In 2003 I was afraid to start my own business.

…In 2005 I was afraid to start a new job while Tex was deployed, and I was juggling work and 3 small kids.

…In 2011 I was afraid to go back to school to start a post graduate degree.

…In 2017 I was afraid to leave Virginia and our home of 14 years where we raised our kids to start a new job in a new state.

…In 2018, I was afraid to start a blog. (I am an accounting and business professional, not a writer. What if I made a grammatical or spelling error in one of my posts, what would people think of me? What if no one read the blog? What if I was misjudged based on my words in cyberspace? What if I unintentionally offended someone? What if______?)

…In 2020, I was afraid of having back surgery for the 3rd time.

…A few months ago, I was afraid of making a major job change in the middle of a global pandemic.

Yet, I did. It wasn’t always easy, but it made me stronger and more resilient. Recalling examples like these provide the self-assurance and encouragement I need when I feel weak and inadequate.

To muster courage: I have to trust that what is waiting on the other side of the fear is better than what I currently have; I have to let go of what is comfortable and lean into the discomfort that leads to growth and healing; I have to embrace pain knowing that it will prevent greater suffering in the future; I have to believe that the only failure is not trying.

What have you done despite being afraid?

What challenge are you facing that you will need to push past the fear to conquer?