It’s easy to talk about facing fears, because, more often than not, we pick big fears that are seemingly too far out of our reach and pretend that through talking about wanting to face them, that we are actually doing it when in fact we are doing very little. Talking is simply not the same as doing.
The real grit that is needed in successful fear facing is found in the small details. It is our small fears that we must conquer, not the big ones, because if we never challenge ourselves over the small ones then we will never have the opportunity, nor the confidence and courage, to overcome the big ones.
This morning I was given the opportunity to jump over a small fear hurdle. I was offered the opportunity to lead a FreeMotion Rip:60 class on the trade show floor at the International Health, Racquet and Sportclub Association (IHRSA) Annual Convention in Los Angeles. This is my first time at IHRSA, my first time as a FreeMotion Master Coach, my first time using a microphone in public and only the second time actually seeing a proper Rip:60 class in person..the challenge was exactly what I needed and exactly what I didn’t want to do.
A mentor once taught me that small fears are expressed in silent, gentle ways, and that, when we catch them peaking their heads out, we must face them immediately. She told that if I ever don’t feel like doing something, it probably means that I should do it, and that I should do it right away. Today was one such example. After first turning down the opportunity, my mentor’s words then resounded through my mind, and I knew then that if I want to continue growing as a person, I needed to do exactly what I didn’t want to do.
With the help of another Master Coach, I slaughtered a fear this morning. We tag-team lead the class, had a great turn-out, and I had a blast. The thing about conquering small fears is that it empowers us to deepen our courage. Courage evokes confidence, and confidence makes us unstoppable.
It’s time that we all stop talking about facing the great big fears that we have and instead start silencing the small nagging voices of self-doubt that haunt us every day. Do that thing that you think you can not do and surprise yourself. It feels amazing.