Go Ahead Fall Flat On Your Face, Take A Chance On You

Do you remember a time as a kid, when you wanted to try something new for the first time, how it made you feel? The butterflies in your stomach; the anxiousness that comes with being in unfamiliar territory. Maybe it was riding your bike without the training wheels or venturing into the deep end of the pool for the first time, while learning to swim.

Perhaps at first, fear prevented you from trying to face this new challenge, by reminding you that “you’ve never done this before” or suggesting “you’re gonna fall flat on your face.”

Despite the mind games though, something deep within made you curious. Curious to see if you really had what it takes to get to the next level. That curiosity sparked your determination, so that your desire to succeed became greater than your fear. Although desire does not always eliminate fear, it can help you to overcome your fears, especially when you have a clear sense of what you want to achieve.

As an adult, you may have a strong desire to pursue a personal or professional life goal, but fear could be preventing you from moving forward to pursue it.

Do you know what element of fear is holding you back? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Could it be that you are afraid because the outcome is unknown?
• Are you afraid because someone you know wasn’t successful at their attempt at a similar goal?
• Is it because someone else doesn’t approve or support your goal?
• Does the success of achieving the goal scare you?

My favorite inspirational song by Melba Moore, entitled “The other side of the rainbow.” The lyrics encourage you to follow your dream. “Cause if you don’t follow your dreams, you’ll never know what’s on the other side of the rainbow, you’ll never know what you’ll find at the top of the mountain, you’ll never know where you’ll be at your journeys end.”

How will you know if you’ll be successful at achieving your goals if you don’t try? Acknowledge that the fear is real, but don’t let it paralyze you. If you have the desire, and feel strongly about pursuing your goals and dreams, do it, even if you have to, do it afraid. Keep this in mind; action . . . is what gives life to your goals.

Take the challenge and don’t leave your goals and dreams to chance. Here are three considerations for achieving successful outcomes to your goals:

1) Weigh the reward of success versus the cost of not doing anything. Simply put, what is achieving the goal worth to you!

2) Be Committed to the pursuit of the goal, even if you’re afraid-remember at this point you firmly believe the reward outweighs the risk!

3) Have a safety net of support -Get a coach, mentor, or friend who will motivate you and act as your cheerleader, accountability and think partner while you are pursuing your goal. So if you fall flat on your face, there’ll be someone there you can trust to help you get back up and try again!

What are you waiting for?

Go ahead fall flat on your face-Copyright 2007, Mary W. Walker & Assured Woman Coaching. All Rights Reserved.