Doing Things that Scare You

They always say you should do one thing a day that scares you. In reality do we do that.. no, probably not, but imagine where we would all be at in our lives if we did. It's food for thought for sure.

Over the past eight or so months, I've done a number of things that I think could be considered scary. I taught my first spin class, which let me tell you was way more intimidating than I had at first thought. I left my job. A job that was a really, really good job. I ended a relationship because I wasn't ready to give up on my dreams. A relationship that had been a pretty steady constant for the majority of my late teens & early twenties. Ending any relationship is scary, but saying goodbye to your best friend is terrifying. And after almost 25 years of living in Connecticut, I moved to New York City. A move I had dreamt about making, but with any move, comes change, and with any change comes a little bit of uncertainty & in some way, shape, or form a little bit of fear.

When it comes down to it, doing scary things or making hard decisions often all mean the same thing .... change, a shift from your comfort zone. But with that shift comes the potential for so much good. The scarier the leap the more potential for amazing, wonderful things to come into your life. And that is why I urge you to always do the things that scare you. Trust yourself, trust the universe, and believe to your core that you will be better off for it. In the grand scheme of things, the people you meet, the lessons you learn, the new experiences that come your way, and the personal growth that occurs by stepping out of your comfort zone & into the world far outweigh the fleeting feelings of uncertainty or fear. It is always worth it. I promise you that.

I can promise you that, because all of those scary things I did months ago, have paid off big time now. Many months later, with that fear all gone, I can tell you why. Teaching that spin class may have been intimidating and scary at the time, but not only did I do it, but I did it well. And I am proud of myself for setting a goal and completing it despite the fear. Regardless of whether or not I decide to continue down the path of being a fitness instructor, I will always be able to look back on that time as a reminder to myself to keep doing the things that are scary, not because it's easy, but because I can do it.

Leaving that really good job was scary, and to be honest starting a new job was just as scary and equally as challenging. There were many, many times when I questioned my decision to leave. But giving it some time, and trusting in the process has led me to a new found state of happiness & comfort in my career, and best of all I have met some really amazing people along the way. The lesson I can take away here, is that sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get what you want. You can't have it all, all the time. My first job will always hold a special place in my heart, and part of me will always wish I could still be there, but I am reminded every day when I walk home from work how incredibly lucky & happy I am to be living in New York City. I would sacrifice my job, time and time again, to live where I do now.

As far as the what has come or what I have gained from ending that relationship.. well part of that is still to be determined. I can't sit here and tell you that because I ended things, it made room in my life for me to find my future husband because that simply is not the truth, at least not right now. Hopefully someday it will all make sense. It always does, it's just a matter of trusting the universe and  giving it time. However, I can say that the happiness I feel right now in my life, and the feeling that I am exactly where I am supposed to be are at an all time high. I think that counts for something. I am living out my dreams and not sacrificing the things that make me happy for someone else. Life is too short to not do all the things that make your heart happy.

At this point I think I've made it pretty clear how I feel about making that move to the city six months ago. It was one of the best decisions I've made in my twenty five years. Any amount of uncertainty or fear that I may have felt leading up to moving pales in comparison to the feelings of happiness, sureness, and pride I experience everyday. This place is magical and I count my blessings everyday that I am able to be a part of it & experience all it has to offer. Find the place to you that is New York to me - the one that feels like magic, home, and an adventure all in one. Despite how scary it might be, do whatever you can to get yourself there.

Chances are, all of the things that we want in life - love, career success, adventure, goal achievement, personal growth - whatever it may be, they all involve a certain degree of fear in order to achieve them. But that's what makes them that much sweeter when they come to fruition. It is always worth it! The bigger the risk, the greater the reward.

As I said in the beginning, you should always do one thing a day that scares you. What's your one thing going to be today?

xo. G