“There is nothing to fear but fear itself.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

For months, I wrestled with the idea of going back to college.  I had a steady job (but was quickly getting burned out.)  The job was beginning to feel like a job from he*ll.

I wasn’t rich, but I was getting by.  I was 26 and, all things considered, my life was stable and ’safe’ for me.

My decision made, I called a really important person in my life.  I’ve never forgotten her words to me when I told her I’d decided to go back to school…

“Why would you do THAT?  You’re going to lose everything you own!”

Ah.  Such confidence in me!  Of course, I was hurt by her lack of support.  That certainly wasn’t what I had expected.

So, what did I do?  I quit that job from he*ll.  I went back to school full time.  Got a great part time job.  Got up at 4:30 a.m. and got back home around 11:30 p.m.  Yes, those were some long days…

Was it worth it?  You bet.

You see, I quickly realized this woman’s words to me were nothing but her fear talking.  I don’t know what created that fear for her — or even how she could equate going back to school with ’losing everything.’

Sure, I had a lot to fear — if I looked at everything from the point of fear.  But, I wasn’t willing to keep straddling the Fear Fence and stay in Limbo, either.  Because that’s what happens when we allow fear to keep us from moving forward.  Or, trying something new and exciting.

How about you?

Are you still straddling the fence? 

Do you worry what others would say, if you brought your dream out of the dark and into the light?

What is it you’d really like to do?  Do you want to travel?  Give up your stressful (or perhaps boring) job?  Work from home?  Volunteer?  Make a true difference in the world?

Go ahead, put it out here.  That’s the very first step, you know?  :-)