You know that thing, that dream, that big idea you fantasize about? You have to do it. It’s that thing you think about in the middle of the night, or the thing that creeps into your mind as you commute to your job or as you sit in your office/cubicle/storefront/kitchen/car. Maybe it flickers like a spark, maybe it flashes brightly at times and dims at other times. Maybe we let our minds play games to rationalize away that desire as unrealistic or impossible. How do you face doing the work in the face of fear?
This is something you must nurture. You don’t have a choice.
I could finish right here, but I will offer you the courtesy of explaining what I mean in the hopes that it might inspire you to actually do it.
The last 14 years of owning a business have been a whirlwind of fear for me, along with all the gratitude, blessings, joy and the incredible community that has come along with it.
I’ve dealt with rejection – a lot! – from speaking agencies, media pitches, interview requests, and various other ideas that I, apparently alone, think are awesome.
braving a new path
The last several years haven’t been easy on most people. As the world has shifted and changed, so have I. Some of you may know that I have developed a passion for coherence and learning more about the brain – something that is different from cooking and nutrition, but very much related to our global health and wellness.
Some you also may know that this will be my last year at the helm of the Culinary Nutrition Expert Program. The school isn’t going anywhere, but I am taking a step back so I can focus more time and energy to help others tap into their intuition, be more human, be more present, be more creative and centre themselves so we can all rise above the chaos to become more kind and compassionate. (If you’d like to learn more, find the details about my upcoming Intuition Masterclass and weekly Wake Up Wednesday sessions.)
When I am asked when I realized that my business was working I always say the same thing: I will let you know.
I have a fear of taking the leap every single day. And every single day I continue to leap.
Why? Why do I continue to brave the fear when I could just coast along?
It’s simple: I have to. I have no choice. And you don’t have a choice either.
We have a duty to ourselves and the universe to fulfill our calling.
We all have one, it’s just that often it seems easier to shove that knowing into a deep and dark place. And where we shove that knowing is where we also start to experience aches and pains, anxiety, insomnia, deterioration in our relationships, financial challenges (often caused by our desire to consume ‘stuff’ in place of fulfillment) and most scary of all, loss of spirit.
It’s the loss of spirit that is the toughest. When we get too comfortable in what we believe is a safe space to exist with that reliable paycheck, health benefits, vacation days and regular schedule, all without feeling fulfilled, our spirit slowly dies away and we become apathetic. We rarely notice the transition towards ‘ho-humness” but if you start to look around at friends and family, your colleagues, your bank teller, your server – you might see it. And what we see in others is often a reflection of ourselves.
That apathy chips away at the spirit until we forget who we are. We become consumed by fear of the unknown and in this consumption, create the greatest crime towards ourselves: we sacrifice what makes us uniquely awesome.
That fear we experience at the prospect of taking the leap might just be the greatest sign of all that we are leaping in the right direction.
That fear we experience at the prospect of taking the leap might just be the greatest sign of all that we are leaping in the right direction. We may choose to tune into those around us who try and dismiss our ideas as unrealistic. Don’t be swayed. Their judgments of our actions have nothing to do with us. That is their own fear talking.
Doing the work in the face of fear
The more fearful we are of answering that calling, the more certain we can be that it is exactly the direction that we must proceed. That doesn’t mean the end goal will match our vision of what we might consider a ‘success’, but that doesn’t matter. The intention behind why you started is what matters. The rest is simply your personal adventure in facing your fear and reigniting your spirit.
Doing the work in face of fear is not the same as living in fear. It’s quite the opposite.
Doing the work in face of fear is not the same as living in fear. It’s quite the opposite, in fact. I do not live in fear. I experience fear and doubt. I second guess myself often. I just don’t let the fear win. The fear can’t ever win. I let the fear fuel my efforts. In the face of fear, I respond by doing my best.
I have had fear in writing this post. Every single post I have ever written that caused me the most fear and anxiety, you have loved the most – and still I am afraid to hit publish.
for your consideration
As I’ve embarked on a new direction in my work and my writing, this is a decision most certainly made in the face of fear, which tells me it’s the right move. I have new offerings that you can participate in, if you choose.
If you are challenged by doing the work in the face of fear, I invite you to consider:
If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you regret having never given your energy to?
What are your barriers to answering your calling?
What keeps you from igniting your spark and letting the dreams become your reality?
What brings you the most joy?
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