Don't Let Fear Stop You
Embrace Your Fear and Pursue Your Dreams Anyway
Don't let fear stop you. Whether it's a short-term goal or a dream, don't let fear scare you away from doing it anyway. If it is important enough, you will be scared when you start. That fear is good; it will keep you on your toes and ready to face challenges as they come.
I have been a single foster parent for years now, and when I started the licensing process, I was scared out of my mind. What if I wasn't good enough? What if they said no? What if I forgot all my training the first time I picked up a baby? (Newsflash—I did.)
But when it comes to dreams, when you're scared, that doesn't mean you shouldn't work toward the dream. It doesn't mean that dream won't happen. There can be logistical hurdles to overcome, and you will need to put in the work to achieve something, but don't wait until you aren't scared before going for it.
If the dream is big enough, there will never be a perfect time to start. There will always be a reason to hold off, to push back the timeline. There will be naysayers and doubters who are unwilling to look past the hard to see the good that could come.
But your dream won't just happen on its own. However, if you're willing to do the work scared, willing to take that first step forward when you can't see the way to the end of the journey, then you're doing what you need to.
I've been fostering for seven years now. I've welcomed more than 30 babies into my home and even wrote a book about fostering. I now specialize in caring for medically complex and substance-exposed newborns, something I never thought I could do on my own. And I'm absolutely living my dream.
But I'll tell you a secret. There are days when I'm still scared. Days when the dream feels too big or too overwhelming to actually come true, and I'm overcome by doubts. But those days pass, and then good days come.
So do it scared. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Because your dream is important, and the world needs dreamers who are willing to be brave.
