I had the incredible opportunity to attend Christy's Business Boutique in Nashville, Tennessee last week. This is an annual Women's Entrepreneur Workshop, sponsored through the Dave Ramsey organization, where 3,000 plus women come together to be inspired, educated, and ready to set the world on fire with their businesses. The information that I received was so good, that I've decided I want to share it with you! I plan to write several blogs highlighting the key takeaways from the event.
Today, we are talking about fear. The session on fear was entitled "Do It Scared" and was lead by Christy Wright. She shared some incredible insight into learning how to to push past fear and chase your big dreams. The following information is taken from that session.
So many of us have big dreams inside of us, but are too scared to take action. What if it doesn't work. What will people think? I'll look foolish. But what if it DOES work? What if it DOES impact the world for good? God didn't call us to live small lives. He has placed those dreams and desires in your heart, and He wants to use you to accomplish them. "Both faith and fear require you to believe in something that hasn't happened yet." You have to make a choice....do you choose faith or fear?
Fear established the limits of your life. Do not let it be your guide. Playing it small or playing it safe is not what we are called to do. It's the easier road, but a road filled with regrets. Fear is NORMAL! Don't expect fear to go away, because it won't. You'll always have those voices playing in your mind, telling you that you can't do it. It's too big. It's too risky. I am not capable. It's impossible.
Christy shared the story of Dr. James Gill. He is one of only a handful of people to ever complete a double triathlon. For those of you who may not know what a triathlon is, it's a 2 mile swim in the ocean, followed by a 112 mile bike ride on land, followed by a full 26 mile marathon. This man did a DOUBLE triathlon. Basically, he completed one, and then turned around and completed another one immediately following. When asked how he did it, he said it was simple. "Instead of listening to myself, I talked to myself!" All of those voices that were in his head, he ignored, and talked directly to himself with positive and affirming messages allowing him to literally do what most people would believe to be impossible.
You don't have to wait until you're not scared to do the thing you want to do. Do it scared! Talk to yourself, but protect yourself from any internal negative mindsets. If there is something that you are scared to do, do it ONCE! The antidote to fear is action. Vincent Van Gogh once said, "If you hear a voice inside you say that you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced."
When presented with an opportunity, say yes before you know how. You will figure it out. Fake it until you feel it! Act confident, and eventually, you will feel confident. Because with God all things are possible. 1st Thessalonians 5:24 says, "The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." Christy closed with this....Impossible is where you end, and God begins, and yes, He will give you EVERYTHING you need to accomplish the God given mission he has placed inside you. "The job God has for you, the calling on your heart, and that dream that keeps nagging at you - it's a job that ONLY YOU can do!" Believe faith (not fear) and take the first step towards following that dream today!