I was on a hike in the Colorado mountains one summer as a little girl. We had to cross a shallow but rapidly moving and wide stream. I wasn’t the first to cross nor the last, those who went ahead made it across just fine. Our leader told me not to worry and to just take it slow. His words got in my head. I wasn’t worried until he told me not to be, then all I could think was “what if…” What if I lose my footing? What if I get swept away by the current? What if I drown? What if I die??? Suddenly making it across the stream became monumental! I couldn’t get the “what if I fall” out of my head. I proceeded with caution and half-way through, with nothing but doubt swirling around in my mind and cold water swirling around my feet, I was overcome by fear. Instead of looking ahead to safety, I became consumed with the water rushing past me, it made me dizzy and unable to focus. And then the worst happened, I lost my footing and fell into the water. It was so cold!!! The current, however, was not nearly as strong as I perceived it to be. But that hadn’t registered in my overwrought mind yet, as all I could immediately comprehend was that my fear had become my reality. I was now laying down in the stream totally freaking out! Slowly, I came to realized the water I was in was only about 10 inches deep and I wasn’t going anywhere! I was totally fine! I didn’t even come close to drowning or dying…or even being swept away. I was basically just laying there in the stream, wet and cold for nothing and making quite a spectacle of myself in the process. The leader of my group came to me, helped me up and walked me the rest of the way across. It was embarrassing. I felt like a total idiot because everyone else made it across no problem. I was the only one who threw myself into the water and panicked. If only I had trusted myself…

At this point in life I find myself figuratively in the middle of a rapidly moving stream. I can see my destination, the sure footed ground ahead. In fact, it’s a beautiful sight, lush and green. I can smell the pine trees and feel the warmth of the sun. But when I just look down to the place where I presently stand, at my very cold feet, all I can see are torrents of water rushing by me. It makes me dizzy and I feel fear creeping in. But now, instead of whispering “what if” to myself I am going to choose “trust yourself” and then lift my head and turn my gaze forward. Instead of throwing myself into the abyss of uncertainty I will proceed one unsure step at a time, until I am on solid ground. I will do this not only for me, but for those behind me watching who will need to make trek across next.

Take a moment to watch this short youtube video:Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear

My task for you, is that wherever you are going, whatever your goals are, big or small, trust yourself. Trust yourself first as a parent, in your new job, in your relationships with a significant other or with your friends and family. Trust yourself to make the decisions that are right for you, right here and now. Trust yourself first and those around you will witness your confidence and will know that not only can they trust you, they can learn to trust themselves too. Fear is natural and in many ways it’s good! Fear can definitely protect us from getting hurt but irrational fear can become a self-fulfilling prophecy that will ultimately keep us from experiencing life’s many adventures…if we don’t trust ourselves to handle it. So know that you don’t have to give into it, you don’t have to throw yourself down into the abyss. Giving into irrational fear will often humble you as you realize that whatever it is that is holding you back is really quite shallow in the whole scheme of things. Trust yourself.

Keep moving forward. Forge your path. Live fearlessly. Trust yourself.

“What does fear taste like? Success. I have accomplished nothing without a little taste of fear in my mouth.” ~Beyonce