Is it too late?

Is it too late?

Don't let fear narrow your scope.

Are you one of those women who feels fear or anxiety at every decision? Fear and anxiety share some similar physical symptoms, but they are very different. Fear paralyzes, and its purpose is to preserve survival. Anxiety, on the other hand, is triggered by an imagined danger, and it tends to be diffuse and persistent. That is why it is said that the imagined scenarios that fill our minds rarely come to pass. Anxiety lasts longer and is harder to switch off. It brings some of the same physical symptoms as fear, but it also keeps us from thinking clearly and acting with emotional intelligence. The changes that arrive in our lives branch out into multiple anxieties that make us lose the ability to listen to ourselves, and we don't allow our intuition to be our compass.

These emotions often rob us of the clarity to act. Which decisions have you put off in recent years?

When I had to decide whether to return to Oregon because of some very hard moments in my life, it was a season of maximum anxiety. I couldn't sleep, I lost my appetite, and I was completely distracted until I asked myself: What is the worst that can happen to me? I sold my car, put my "home" in storage, and rented out my property. After each of these complex steps, the anxiety dissipated, and a second stage arrived with new questions: "What will I do in Oregon? Where will I go in Oregon?" In my previous life with my husband, we had lived in Corvallis, Eugene, and Springfield. Portland was the destination I chose.

My first "job" was walking Griffin, an adorable two-year-old dog, which I did for two years. That is where the wheel began to turn, and I went on to work in a variety of jobs. They gave me experience I didn't have, since I had always worked independently as a micro-entrepreneur. Suddenly, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to go back to doing my own thing. But what was my own thing? Since 1994, I have worked in tourism, in the company my husband and I built: Anglatin Travel, which specialized in technical tours focused on natural resources. In 2014, I founded Accessible Travel Americas for All, LLC. This time, we specialized in accessible travel for people with disabilities.

It took me three months to decide what I wanted, and the recurring question was: "Is this the life I want at 70?" That is, working 40 hours per week and being unable to dedicate myself to my own business. Without a doubt, the anxieties struck me again, and the question that overwhelmed me was: "Is it too late to start over?" And once again, the question: What is the worst that can happen? It is legitimate to feel anxiety and to rethink personal questions.

What holds us back?

Usually, it's fear: fear of failing, of starting over, of disappointing others, and of what people will say. These fears are real, and they are normal. But they are not facts. They are stories we tell ourselves, and we can write new ones.

Start with yourself

Ask yourself these questions, from the most personal to the broadest:

• What new activity is knocking at my door?
• What ideas come to me when I go for a walk with my pet?
• How do the people around me see me?
• Who could be my mentor?
• How can I best contribute to the development of my society, culture, and environment?

Then take one small step

You don't need to quit your job or reinvent yourself overnight. Try this:

1. Give it an hour a week. Spend it exploring something your curiosity keeps pointing to: a course, a project, or a volunteer role.
2. Ask three people you trust what strengths they see in you. You may be surprised.
3. Find a mentor who has walked a path you admire, and ask for one conversation.
4. Go for a walk with your pet, as I did with Griffin, or alone, with no phone and no agenda. Let your ideas catch up with you.

Through this process of self-reflection, new avenues for personal and professional growth will emerge. Your profession is something you do, not something you are. You alone set your limits. Open your portfolio, and new ideas will emerge.

So tell me: what is knocking at your door right now? Go open it.

And if you're afraid, ask yourself what I asked myself: What is the worst that can happen? Is it too late?

G. Consuelo Miranda

Accessible Travel Americas.com LLC – Anglatin Travel

accessibletravelamericas@gmail.com