The Power of Fear

I did something for one of my coaching clients today.

And it scared the shit out of her.

What did I do that was so scary? I offered her my magazine column.

Every 3 months for the past 5 years, I have been writing an article for a local print magazine. My business has been evolving and changing and now I think that my client and her business are better fit for the the magazine and its readers. I’m ready to shift my marketing efforts and write for a new group of readers. And to do that, I need to let go of my old literary home.

And it is the perfect next step for my client.

Giving the Fear Meaning

She is going to grow and change if she does this. She is going to expand her comfort zone and get more visible in the world. She’s going to become really good at writing 800 words of education and entertainment.

And she’s totally afraid.

I’m cool with her being afraid – I know it doesn’t mean that she’s a wimp, or a loser, or that she’s not a good writer. She has everything she needs to make this opportunity into a success for her and her business. I see her succeeding 100%.

Subverting the Dominant Paradigm

But she is facing a dilemma. What is she going to do and is she going to let fear stop her?

As a culture, our usual relationship with fear is to automatically think it’s right and we shouldn’t do whatever we’re afraid of. But I like Pema Chodron’s take on fear – it’s a sign that you are on the right path. You are moving closer to your truth.

My client realized this and after we talked for a little while, she took a deep breathe and said ‘yes.’

Sometimes we need to feel afraid to feel alive. Sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zone and be who we really are so we can grow into the new, improved, more successful version of ourselves that we envision.

Fear can stop us or it can move us forward. The choice lies within each of us. What do you do when you’re afraid?

My suggestion? Embrace your fear and see it as a message from your soul that you are closer to the truth than you were before.

Now it’s your turn:

What are you afraid of? How is this showing you that you are moving in the right direction? Please share your experience in the comments below so we can hear your wisdom and cheer you on!