Do It Despite How You Feel.

It’s not about *not* being afraid.

That feeling you get when you’re about to do something different or new is your fight or flight kicking in because of the possibility of failure.

Whenever you try anything new, you will feel this way, and that’s why it’s not about no longer feeling afraid.

It’s about accepting that feeling and acting despite how it makes you feel.

To be transparent, I am one of the most risk-averse people I know.

Part of it has to do with my temperaments: not wanting to look like I don’t know what I’m doing (I hate looking foolish, or the idea of it), never asking for help so I can appear put together (I’m naturally very independent), etc.

By learning to become self-aware, I realized these traits, were getting in the way of acting.

I remembered a quote from one of my favorite books I read several years ago. Think Like a Success, Act Like a Success by Steve Harvey.

“… when you face your fears, they aren’t as big as you thought they were. What makes them big is when you don’t turn around and face them head-on. The longer you avoid your fears, the bigger they grow in your mind.”

As time passes, I feel more and more the effects of not stepping past my comfort zone and making moves that will get me closer to the life I want to have.

And I’m 100% certain there’s a lot of us in that boat right now, afraid of the idea of failure but constantly being consumed by the thought that we know we‘re capable of much more but aren’t doing much to reach that potential.

So, how do we conquer this feeling? How do we act despite feeling afraid of what could be?

1. Make gradual changes.

I’ve had to learn this lesson over and over in various areas of my life.

For example, I’ve struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember.

It wasn’t until my health was impacted that I decided it was time to take my diet and lifestyle under control.

The journey wasn’t roses and rainbows and definitely took much longer than expected.

I started having digestion problems at twenty-one, I’m twenty-eight, and now I feel they are finally under control, as well as my weight.

Through this journey of gaining and losing weight and learning to focus on my health rather than my looks, I realized that you need to make gradual, small changes.

Not big monumental ones.

I started slowly changing my portion sizes, then switching out some things here and there. For example, I started drinking tea instead of coffee and eating less sweets but not cutting them out altogether.

As I mentioned, the journey took years and is still ongoing since I’m not where I want to be.

But I’m much further along now, and it’s all thanks to allowing myself room for error and not putting pressure on myself to be perfect from the get-go.

On the journey to whatever goal you want to achieve, give yourself grace and understand you’re not perfect. No one is, even the fitness influencers you see on social media.

They do this, too: they implement small changes, remain consistent over a long time, and forgive themselves for falling off the wagon occasionally.

You can do the same.

2. Don’t focus on the big picture too much.

Instead, focus on the next step, and then the next, and so on.

Before I started writing, I focused solely on the destination and the final goal.

I got stuck along the way to reach that big final goal because it started to feel overwhelming.

Yes, the big picture and the ultimate dream are an inspiration and motivation to keep going.

But some days, they feel like this overwhelming weight, which can stop you from doing what you said you would.

Along this writing journey, I’m learning to focus more energy on the smaller goals and tasks rather than constantly thinking about my final destination.

I’ve learned those sometimes mundane and repetitive daily tasks will lay down the foundation on which you will build your dream.

Once you’ve locked in a routine where you’re performing those tasks consistently, you’ll see yourself accomplishing those smaller goals over and over.

And when you’re accomplishing those goals over and over, you will eventually reach that big-picture dream.

3. Come to terms with the reality that monumental changes and achievements take TIME.

It will take time, but you will get there if you keep moving forward.

In the Western world, we live in a culture that’s gotten us too used to instant gratification.

We expect things right away and right now. We have little to no stamina or patience.

And those are killers for achieving big-picture goals.

Coming to terms with what is rather than fighting it is your best bet when it comes to the pursuit of success.

And the reality of making your dreams come true and achieving your goals is that they require time.

There’s a process of refinement you will go through.

You will face obstacles of all kinds, and it’s these challenges that will transform you, over time, into the resilient person you need to be not just to achieve your goals but also to maintain them.

Takeaways.

Act despite how you feel.

The big picture may seem overwhelming and scary, but if you break it down into smaller goals and milestones, you can start moving forward and making headway.

The journey there will take time (think years) and will be an uphill battle.

Don’t let this discourage you. The trials and tribulations along the way will give you what you need to accomplish all your goals — persistence, tenacity, patience, problem-solving thinking, etc.

And lastly, forgive yourself for the mistakes you have made and will make.

The journey doesn’t have to be rigorous and strict. Allow it to be fun and enjoy it.

Take the pressure off that you need to accomplish every single task and goal perfectly.

You will reach your goals and dreams undoubtedly. All you need to do is show up every single day.