Last week my daughter did something she’s been wanting to do for the last 2 years. She wanted to do it… but she kept letting fear get in her way. She saw other people do it safely. She saw other people laugh, and have fun, and enjoy themselves doing it… but just couldn’t get the voice of fear out of her head long enough to go for it.
Until last week.
Last week she finally went down the slide at the pool. (and of course like any proud blogging mama I was standing right there ready to capture the moment)
It was a triumph for her. She loved it, and for the rest of the day ran up the ladder and went down the slide laughing and having fun with her friends.
Business is a lot like the slide. It’s easy to build certain things up in our minds, make them bigger and scarier than they really are… and the more we talk ourselves into how hard/scary/unable we are to do these things the harder it is to let go and just do it.
Thankfully Hanna was able to let go and just do it… it’s also helped her to realize there are other things in her life she thinks are too scary or too hard for her to do… and now she’s starting to doubt the truth of that belief now.
You can do it too. I know there are things you’ve got rattling in your head ~ it’s too hard. It’s too scary. I just can’t do that. I’m not that kind of person. I’m not good at that.
Throw it out.
What’s the worst that could happen? Someone tells you no? So what.
Right now… take out your chicken list ~ whether you’ve actually written it down or just have it memorized in your head… take it out, and pick one thing you’re too afraid to do, or one person you’re too afraid to call… and just do it.
I assure you… you’ll live through it… and who knows ~ you might be like Hanna and realize it’s FUN! 🙂
I would LOVE to hear how it goes for you! Leave your story in the comments or better yet, friend me on facebook and send me a message!
Hey Jackie!
GREAT post! When I’m coaching my clients to work through their fears and do the things on their “chicken list” – I encourage them to re-label it and call it their “I am courageous & celebrating ” list. It changes their focus from the fear to the courage they have and the celebration that will follow.
Your post and my comment was an important reminder for me – time to go be courageous and celebratory!
🙂
I love the renaming idea!! What we call things makes such a difference! Thanks for that little nugget!!
This is the first I’ve heard of a “chicken list” interesting Great post Jackie! One baby step at a time 🙂
I was introduced to it when I started in the Network Marketing industry ~ it’s that list of people you WANT to talk to about your business… but you’re just too afraid to call them. But it applies to pretty much all areas of life. 🙂
Love this. Trying to work through fears of my own at this point in time. If I can get past them I know I can take off like a rocket. 😉
Love the idea of a chicken list. And no matter how successful we become, there will emerge new items to add to it and overcome.
Part of it’s scary but it’s also exciting.