“Even if you fall on your face, you’re still moving forward.”
-Victor Kiam
It is my mission to encourage you to follow your passion. I know personally how fear can stop you from living your dreams, but I also know that it is necessary for you to go after your dreams because they are part of your life’s purpose! It is going to take courage and falling forward to follow your passion, but I promise you it will be worth it!
Being and doing what I am doing today was not done in the absence of fear. It was not easy to leave a comfortable life style as an educator to pursue my Personal Development Coaching Business. My ego tried to convince me many times that I should continue on the well-known path. That there was nothing wrong with my life. That I was stupid for giving up a modest secure income, for something that had no real guaranties. Yes, there where sleepless nights conquered by fear of the, “what if’s.” I had no idea what it took to run a coaching business or how much work was required, but if I was going to tell my students to live their passion and I was not doing that for myself I was being a hypocrite. So I decided to take the plunge all at once and sink or swim! Like I said it is not easy, but something inside of me has always found my true strength!
Today I want to focus on courage and how courage can conquer your fears if you can answer these three questions.
1. What are the fear(s) that are stopping you from pursuing your passion?
2. What is the worst that could happen?
3. Can you handle it?
What are the fear(s) that are stopping you from pursuing your passion?
For me it was going into an unknown territory, the uncertainty and the belief that I was not good enough to do this. I know that we can’t control what happens in our lives, but I truly had it all planned out in my passed life as an educator. I knew what curriculum I had to teach, how my students would learn it all because it was given to me. In many instances I felt like a robot, but knowing what to expect in staff developments every year was security. That felt good! My other fear was that I would not be good at coaching people about life. Even though I had been told by my friends and family that, “personal advising was my thing!” Never in a million years did I think that I could make a living out of it. You see Personal Development Coaching was too enjoyable for me. I thought you had to get paid for your time not your services. What is stopping you? What fears roam your mind? You have it in you to go after what you are passionate about. You have that special talent because you have to share it with the world. Don’t lose faith and get started. You will be glad you did, I promise.
What is the worst that could happen?
Anything that is worthwhile requires some risk! In my mind the worst that could happen when I pursued my passion was that I would fail. That was scary! It was scary until I heard the Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale. If you have not heard this recording you should look him up. Earl Nightingale reminded me that I was falling if I was not doing what I was passionate about, also that one fails if we I stop pursuing our dreams. So in essence if I failed once, and went back to something that was not my passion. I had failed twice by default. My worst thing would be to fail many times, but I concluded that would get up and try it one hundred times more. I believe it’s important to understand that you will fall, you will stumble, but you will continue to succeed if you keep on falling forward, and keep on moving!
You can handle it!
Do you know how amazing you are? Look at your life. How have you handled setbacks? If you are reading this you have survived many trials and tribulations and there you stand. Don’t doubt the power of your soul. To go after your passion will develop the courage and strength you will need to get there. Fight and believe in your life’s purpose! Never doubt that you have what it takes to go after your dreams, because if you didn’t you would not have those desires. It will not be easy, you will fail many times, but you will also fail everyday if you are not doing what you love. So keep your head up, follow your passion and persevere you hear!
Remember when you go after your passion you will learn how strong and courageous you will become by falling forward.
Until next Monday, don’t forget to BELIEVE. CHANGE. BECOME!
Nancy Salmeron