One of my mentors often uses the phrase, “jump and build your wings on the way down” to encourage us to move beyond our fears and just to it. “Do it afraid” he says.
I probably haven’t used the words “I’m afraid” in my life very much to describe why I wouldn’t do something, but clearly I have avoided things that would take me out of my comfort zone.
It wasn’t until I really understood what I was passionate about that I began to really start trying those things that previously I would not even considered doing.
I thought my life was pretty good. I definitely had a lot on my plate but almost all of it was in my comfort zone. I never felt anxious about what I was doing, only how much I had to do.
Here is the problem. During that 20 years, not much changed inside of me. My wife and I were raising our boys, I was working a career in construction and the bills were being paid. All good – right?
As I look back on that time frame in my life, I really don’t think there was much growth in me as a person or as a leader. Time, in itself, helped advanced me in my career but it was more positional instead of intentional.
If you let your fear of consequence prevent you from following your deepest instinct, your life will be safe, expedient and thin. – Katharine Butler Hathaway
I think Hathaway describes what my life was, “thin.” Yes I was providing for my family but I was far from reaching my potential as a husband, father and member of my community.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. – Marianne Williamson
This is one of my favorite quotes. “Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” I was 45 years old when I first heard that quote and I don’t think I had ever even considered that idea before. Most people focus on what they are not instead of what they could be.
Over the last few years I have shifted my focus from what I wasn’t to what I could be and I can’t believe the how much bigger the world has become. Next month I will be travelling with a team of 200 coaches through John Maxwell’s EQUIP organization to work with the Guatemalan government to teach their educators about leadership. I never imagined doing something like that.
I am no longer afraid to step outside my comfort zone with the intent of becoming more, becoming that person I was meant to be. I believe part of this process has been the development of a mind-set that says it’s ok to fail but equally important has been an increased awareness of what opportunities are out there.
I know that many of you reading this feel like you are in survival mode. Why do I know this? Because it was not too long ago that I was in the same place. I also know this … if I could make the changes necessary to start living my dream, you can to.
Williamson was right. It is not a fear of inadequacy that holds us back. It is the fear of becoming what we have the potential to be. Why? Because it is scary. Very few people ever come close to reaching their potential. So to reach that potential requires change.
So I leave you with this thought to consider: “Are you afraid of change, or are you afraid to change?” I believe it’s the latter. So if you think some change is in order for your life – do it afraid and do it because it is what is required for you to be who you were meant to be!
***********************************************************************
Don’t miss a single post in this series from Building What Matters by subscribing at the top left of this page.
Help support us by clicking here and Liking our facebook page
Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 5/3/13 photo by author
