BRAVERY 52 | List 14

LIST 14 | What fears or past experiences do you hold that feel like blockades to manifesting your dreams.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ― Marianne Williamson

I often venture into life: projects, courses, career paths, with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm only to sabotage myself with the questions in my head which is always some version of "what if she was right and I am useless, lazy, uppity, too confident?" or "what if he was right and no one will support me?" The people in those questions are my (late) mother and then later my (ex) husband, so much alike in their desire to crush my spirit.

I really need to replace those fears with the beautiful support and enthusiasm of my children, friends, and my sweet Bill who thought I could do anything.

I've failed at plenty without lasting mortification or trauma, I don't know why I'm overwhelmingly reticent to venture into scary things. I know that on the other side of fear is often joy.

What's the worst that can happen? I'll learn something.