Today I was preparing a talk I will be giving this weekend at The Vitality Show. My theme is Bravery. It seems to me that those who achieve something special in their lives have faced and fought their fears. It really is like a battle. And those who win out demonstrate great bravery.
If you think I am over-exaggerating, consider this. Most people (maybe you will be honest enough to admit this applies to you!) have aspects of their lives which they tolerate. Some even have aspects of their lives that they hate. I spent many years doing a job I hated, a job which brought me regularly to tears. If it was easy to overcome fear, people would change their lives all the time. But they don't.
And why do we put up with a life that is less than fabulous? Because of fear.
Alright, maybe we don't have complete freedom of choice. We have duties towards our families, towards our society and to uphold our moral code. But is that really what stops you from making a big change in your life? I doubt it. Having coached hundreds of people over the last decade, I have found that most of the excuses given for "putting up" with situations are just fear in disguise.
So, it takes real bravery to confront those fears and take a big, bold action. And even when you confront it, fear doesn't just go away. It puts up a fight. Months after leaving my BBC job and starting my own business I still found myself one day running to the post office and running back to my home office, filled with guilt about stepping away from my desk during working hours. But who would have been angry with me, given that I work for myself? In my mind I heard a voice loud and clear telling me that posting a letter (a work-related letter no less) was skiving because I wasn't staring at my computer screen or using the phone.
It took a good 6 months for me to get used to the fact that the rules of my life had changed...that I had changed them by taking a big, bold action. On occasion I still hear that voice - when I play with my daughter on a Wednesday afternoon, when I take a full hour for lunch, when I shop for groceries on a Monday morning. Fear can camouflage itself well, appearing to be your sensible voice, your work ethic, your commitment to your job, so don't be fooled.
Be brave....And if you think you have a really good reason for not changing something about your life that you hate, let me know!
For more information about The Vitality Show and my session click here.
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