12/07/2022
Let’s talk about COURAGE.
Does anyone remember the book “Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway” by Susan Jeffers? It was one of the first self-help books I picked up, and the title itself was a revelation. Up until that point in my life I was convinced that feeling fear was a sure sign that what I was about to attempt was wrong. I had this weird idea that if something seemed too hard then I wasn’t supposed to do it. To say that my emotions ran my life is an understatement!
Whenever someone asks me about my greatest achievement I often say, “Getting my driver’s licence”. Not because it is a notable achievement in itself (millions of people drive cars) but because I was so scared every time I even thought about getting into the driver’s seat. I’d got my Learner’s Permit three times during my twenties, and each time I let it lapse without a single lesson.
I remember the day I made the decision to “feel the fear and do it anyway”. I was in a meeting with a fairly hard-nosed businesswoman. I’m not sure how the topic came up but on learning that I didn’t drive she blurted out, “That’s disgusting.” It was brutal.
I came out of that meeting humiliated and offended, but within a short I had my driver’s licence. I wasn’t any less afraid every time I had a driving lesson, but all I had to do was picture that hard-nosed businesswoman, tap into my bruised pride, and I would press on. It’s interesting where courage can come from.
Do you have an experience of feeling the fear and doing it anyway? I’d love to hear it.
