What's the worst thing that can happen?

Today's blog post is about fear.

Sometimes, you have to face your fears to be authentic. There are plenty of things that we really want to do, but they are terrifying.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
Eleanor Roosevelt 

A while ago, when Braeden was auditioning for the school play, he was afraid he hadn't done well on his tryout and he was nervous he wouldn't get a part.

"What would happen if you aren't cast?" I asked him.

"That would be terrible," he said.  "I would be really sad."

"What would happen?" I asked.

"I guess I'd see if I could be on the tech crew," he said.  "Then, I would still get to go to practice and see my friends."

I think it made him feel better (although he felt better still when he learned that he did get a part.)

When you think about the worst thing that can happen--humiliation, rejection, etc.--and you determine that the possibility of those outcomes is survivable, I say go for it.  Once you realize you would be able to live with the worst case scenario, it is empowering.

I'm not going to lie to you though.  There are plenty of times I disagree with Eleanor Roosevelt because I am a chicken.  Sometimes I refuse to look fear in the face and I go right on not doing the thing I think I cannot do.

You won't find me skydiving, going on scary roller coasters or bungee jumping to name a few.  Sometimes deciding to live your life by the guiding principles of staying safe and comfortable is being authentic too.