Who would you be if you weren't afraid?

Fear...a driving force in so many of our lives. The thing that stops us from doing great things, acting a certain way, reaching goals. Tonight I read a NY Times article on Lady Gaga written by David Brooks. It was excellent...I highly recommend it. One line that really stuck with me was "Who would you be and what would you do if you weren't afraid?"

This line encompasses where I am in my life. Here I am in the middle of my life wondering what would I be. To some this would be a shock...I am a successful teacher, I run a great after school program, I am involved in a variety of professional activities, I am starting a side business. I do many things. I am perpetually busy. Some comment on the fact I am so busy as a reflection of my inability to be still. This is not entirely true...being still is a goal, but a struggle for me.

Back to the line, "Who would you be and what would you do if you weren't afraid?" If we really examine this line is is both a challenge and an admonishment. We are allowing ourselves to not fully become who we should be because of fear. We are limiting our own success and growth due to fear. How is that a good thing? Limiting ourselves because we are afraid of what others think or feel means that we are pushing an important part of ourselves down, not allowing it to grow.

What would happen if we did allow it to grow? What would that look like? Would we expereince success? Would we have a fulfilled life? Would we feel that we are rising to our fullest potential?

One of the things that has become crystal clear in the recent months is the realization that I only have this one life. I mean, I know that it should be obvious, but when you are young, life feels like it's going to last forever, no end in sight. Now, I am not saying that I am end the end of this journey, but rather acutely aware that I need to make this life everything I want it to be. I need to brush my fear aside and take the "bull by the horns."

Fear...it is an emotion that promotes us to be cowards. Fear of success, fear of failing, fear of becoming amazing, fear of others not liking us, fear of trying something new, fear of not. So much controlled by this one emotion, stopping us from truly becoming who we could be. We deserve a life that is worth living, one where we are loved and give love, one where we respect and are respected. One where we stumble and find success. One where we struggle and are fully realized. We deserve it all. In order to achieve that, we must not let fear be our guiding emotion. We must grasp the brass ring of our lives and shine.

Ask yourself, "Who would I be and what would I do if I wasn't afraid?"

Now....do it!!