les lately: learning to “start” even with fear or self doubt

Dec 12

Something you probably don’t know about me, is that I started a blog 10 years ago. It was called Les Lately. I had some of the same motivations, needs and desires then, that I still have today. A need for more connection, self expression, a creative outlet. A way to be seen and heard while living as a stay at home mother and only having a baby, toddler, child to talk to during the day. I had business aspirations, a desire to share my gifts and skills....

I think it only lasted 6 months or so. I stopped because I got busy with life (true but also an excuse) I also stopped because I listened to the negative stories in my head…you know, the ones that say “who are you to do this, why do it, and how will you do it?”

Do you know this feeling? The one where you want to do something...but you haven't? (As a side note, being a mother is a big enough job, and important enough job, that if we never did anything else it would be MORE than enough) I'm sure you know these thoughts.

I realize I was hoping the fear would go away at some point, and then I could start again. Flash forward 10 years and the fear is still there. I'm still thinking negative thoughts....BUT my desire to follow my heart and my knowing, is louder than those voices. My desire to help women feel validated, less alone in their struggles, is stronger than my fear of rejection. My desire to grow and learn is stronger than the fear of doing it wrong. My desire to encourage women to know themselves is stronger than my fear of looking like I have all the answers. The way I feel when I'm taking creative steps, growth steps, conversational steps, feels so much better than when I am not taking any steps at all.

Will you do something for me?...for yourself? Will you write this sentence down, and fill in the blanks? Do it as many times as you need to (like I just did above) to voice your desires out loud, acknowledge that fear around it exists, but that you are stronger than those fears.

MY DESIRE TO _ IS STRONGER THAN MY FEAR OF___.

This is a reminder for us that we are stronger than our fears. Fear can still exist while we start, learn and grow. I would love to hear what your desires and fears are. I would also love to share them, so that we can lift one another up.

More of this to come in the New Year!