It has taken me 37 years but I *think* I have finally learned that it’s okay to be scared.
As we all know, fear is an emotion that can serve a life-saving purpose in certain, but rare, situations.
However, in many cases, it is just a feeling. Yes, it is an uncomfortable feeling which we humans like to avoid because we tend to believe discomfort is bad.
But today I want to encourage you to trek ahead to something good, despite your fear.
Why? You are probably afraid because you are actually very excited and care greatly about the object of your fear. If you succumb to those scary feelings, you could be missing out on a life-changing experience, or at the very least, an opportunity that is fun and rewarding.
How do I know?
Here are 3 life-altering moments that fear almost wrecked for me:
At 22 years old, the night before I moved to New York City to my own apartment and start my corporate accounting job in Times Square, I hid under the dining room table at my parents’ house. I’m not kidding. Yes, I was 22. And I was scared.
At 25 years old, during a trip to California with my now-husband Matt, I had “weird feelings in my stomach” (aka Fear). I almost broke up with him.
At 33 years old, in the weeks leading up to our first Powerhouse class, I thought of all the ways I could cancel because I was SO FRIGGIN SCARED (I had never taught a dance class before).
Thank God for my support people who encouraged me to feel the fear and do it anyway. Here is how my life would be drastically different if I had acted out of fear:
If I hadn’t climbed out from under that dining room table (thanks mom for setting me straight) and moved to New York, I wouldn’t have met my husband Matt, had my son Ben, enjoyed some of the most socially fulfilling, independent, and adventurous years of my 20’s. I also wouldn’t have learned so many essential business skills from my amazing colleagues at Ernst & Young.
If I hadn’t called my best friend on that trip to California, he wouldn’t have reminded me that I was probably just home sick and also a little afraid of committing because things were getting serious. I would have broken up with Matt. But thankfully, we have now been married 8 years and we created a son who is literally the best thing in our lives. Matt is without a doubt my soul mate, my person and my safe haven.
Finally, if had chickened out and cancelled that first Powerhouse class, this organization wouldn’t be here now. I wouldn’t know the incredible people I have met through this community, and I would have most likely stopped dancing. If I had listened to fear I also wouldn’t have found the most rewarding work that I have ever experienced. I think it’s also safe to say that many of our dancers’ lives would be a bit different as well. (P.S. thank you to husband-Matt for absolutely forbidding me to cancel.)
So, if there is something you are excited but scared to do, please just do it.
Pick up the phone and talk to a trusted friend who will encourage you.
Take deep breaths.
Remind yourself of the facts and of all your past successes.
Tell yourself about the times when you did something scary and it turned out amazing.
Then go do it.
Written by Jenny De Tore, founder of Powerhouse Dance. jenny.detore@powerhousedancesj.com