scary conversations.

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." ~ Alice Walker

Hi Courageous Communicators!

Or should I say Happy Halloween? 🎃 And, if you don't celebrate Halloween, here's some 🍫🍬, just because.

This time of year is all about scary movies, scary decorations, and scary costumes. We should also include scary conversations because, to be honest, we have those every day (at least I do).

So what makes the conversation scary?

Is it the subject?

The person on the other side?

Feeling unprepared?

The reason doesn't really matter. The fact is that fear rears its ugly head and gets in the way. 😱

And then (at least for me), I hesitate asking for what I want because...

➡️I'm afraid of what people will think.

➡️I'm afraid that the outcome will be less than ideal.

➡️I'm afraid that I'll be hurt, or I'll regret it.

➡️Or it's easier just to say nothing.

But then something happened.

I (finally) learned to let fear sit with me.

To be clear, I didn’t make it disappear. It still comes up, and I hesitate. And sometimes it says "hi", when I want to say "goodbye". 🙋🏽‍♀️

Fear is instinctual. It protects us from that big bear in the dark cave that we're not supposed to go into. 🐻 (stop going in there!)

If we expect it, then it's not so scary. Instead of telling yourself you've failed once you feel the fear...acknowledge it. Say "hi" and then erase it from your mind, yell at it, or tell it to take a backseat. Whatever works for you. 💪🏽

The point is, know that fear will keep coming back, like that friend who never leaves you alone. But you have the power to move past the fear and ask anyway. Ask scared 👊🏽

Let fear sit on your shoulder as you loudly ask for what you want.

Let fear sit in the backseat as you crush that meeting with your leader.

Say "thanks" to fear for protecting you, and move forward (unless it's a dark cave with a big bear in it).

Like that darn moving spider across the street. It still freaks me out, but now I expect it when I go outside, and I'm a little less afraid each time I see it (I still hate it). 🫣

🎬Your action for the next week?

👉🏽Try it. Acknowledge anytime fear creeps in and taps you on the shoulder. Say "hi" and keep moving. Take action -- ask scared.

The more you try it. The better you'll get at it. And pretty soon, fear will become your friend.

Cheers to our friend, Fear.

Keep rising and making waves as you go. You got this 🤙🏽