You, Me and Prosperity

It has been a few months since my last blog entry. For those of you who follow me, I apologize. I have been going through a transformation. I decided to make my blog posting a part of this change because, after all, it is a journey and writing is a reflection of who I am and who says I cannot embark on a new journey or bring my reflection along for company? But my reflection and I digress…

This post is not about me, my reflection, or my transformation. It is about change and fear and failure, and to be specific, the fear of failure. It is about you, me, and uncertainty.     

Opportunity is often passed up because it disguises itself as uncertain abyss. It is unfamiliar, cold and untested. When it knocks, it appears as a stranger and this stranger wants something. It wants a decision and ultimately, a commitment.

Wait a minute! Last I looked; I didn’t go searching for this stranger to come knocking on my door. I was completely content, wrapped up in my swaddling comfort when this odder, called opportunity, came knocking. Who are you and what do you want? My instinct is to slam the door and mutter to myself under my breath utterings about the sheer audacity of opportunity to show up unannounced. Because face it, when opportunity knocks, actions must follow. We must shut the door and miss out on growth and success, or we must step out and face our biggest fear: failure.

This got me thinking about the origins of such fear. It also got me thinking about the absence of such fear. When a toddler learns to walk, it is an endless process of falling and standing and falling and standing, then stepping and falling and standing and stepping. A toddler does not fear failure. A toddler has enough drive, motivation and desire to endure countless missteps before his or her first wobbly three step stroll. Fear of failure is a learned behavior that becomes imbedded in our subconscious with every thought of self-doubt.

This blog post is dedicated to a dear friend who is currently standing at the threshold between opportunity and fear. So, for her and for anyone else who may be embarking on a new challenge; an opportunity paired by risk. Do not let fear of failure steal your destiny. Step boldly into the direction of your fear. Embrace it and let it empower you to overcome every notion of self-doubt that remains. You are talented. You are creative. You are formidable. Open the door. Welcome opportunity. I’ll see you on the other side, in the land of prosperity.