Yesterday, I wrote about being the CEO of your life and about the importance of saying no. Sometimes saying no is the absolute best thing you can ever do but fear stops us. Well, it used to, until yesterday when we decided it wouldn’t anymore!
There is another even more insidious issue with fear. Fear more often stops us from saying yes to the things that can really expand us and grow us. This one has been a big one in my past. I could relate so many stories it would make you laugh, or cry, or feel sorry for me. However, to have you feel sorry for me is the last thing I intend. Or desire. Or choose to create.
Hmmm, let’s pick a good example. How about the fear of doing any sort of new project? For years, I would hire someone to do work for me because I had never done it before and didn’t know what I was doing. I mean, what if I messed it up? What if I caused a catastrophic wound to my home or myself by attempting to paint the bedroom? Oh no, no. I better just hire someone.
As I began examining my fears, I decided to give painting a try. Some dear friends in other states who do all sorts of home projects with confidence and great results encouraged me. I mean if they can do it, perhaps I could, too. So, I did. On my bathroom cabinets. With stain, not paint. Now, anyone who knows about painting may be laughing now, for it seems I picked the most difficult painting job for my first go. Well, it was ugly at first but I learned a lot. Now I have fabulous new-looking cabinets that I did myself. The amount of joy and sense of accomplishment I got out of that is phenomenal. Who knew? I have since tackled all sorts of painting and realized wow, all the other types are so much easier than staining cabinets!
There are many, many other examples of fear holding me back from saying yes. Going away to college. Heck, I didn’t even take the SAT. Leaving jobs when it was time. Not saying what I could have said in meetings or sharing my ideas or challenging the status quo, not showing my husband how much he means to me and not saying yes to myself too many times to count. I no longer regret any of this. It brought me here and I love my life. I also now see that it is really magical to say yes when I do so consciously. I am now here for myself in a way that I never was before. I am here for myself in a way that no one else on earth can be. Love starts with me. And it starts with me saying yes to the real me, no more fear.
