I came into 2012 with a mental itch. Something bothered me about the past few years of my life, so I grabbed a journal and began to just write over the Christmas holiday. I had to discover where this irritant was coming from.
I figured out the thing that bothered about the past few years was that I’d stopped living and my soul was saying enough is enough.
When I reviewed my life to come up with my goals and desires for the new year I noticed a common thread – fear. I let fear drive my decisions and that’s a miserable life. The one thing I knew was I wasn’t happy because I wasn’t being Maria.
The Maria I knew was the little girl in Kindergarten had enough of being last in line and decided today was the day she would be first in line. Who took the argument for why she should be first to the teacher and then cried to prove how passionate she was (hey, by any means necessary, right?). It worked!
The Maria I knew didn’t know much about stepping, but boldly auditioned for the Society Step Team in high school (and made the team), took on the role of editor of her high school newspaper and signed up for Trigonometry the last semester of my senior year – even at the dismay of my mother since Math had been my weakest subject (and passed with a B).
The Maria I knew confidently walked into the School of Communication orientation my Freshman year of college and told the head of the department that she would be the editor of the school newspaper (it happened). The Maria I knew walked boldly. She was confident and tackled challenges head on. Where was she? Wherever she was I knew wanted her back!
More importantly, who told her she couldn’t? Who told ME that I couldn’t be what I wanted to be and accomplish what I desired? And why did I listen? On Sunday I watched a YouTube video of Bishop T.D. Jakes discussing how fear is holding us back.
I encourage you to click the link above and listen for yourself. I certainly was inspired.
Here are a few poignant words from the video that motivated me:
- God is calling you to opportunity and away from the circumstance
- What would you do if you had no fear? Whatever
it is, that’s what fear is keeping you from.
I decided to go into the next year with the following theme: Going Big in 2012 – Be Bold. Live Fearlessly. I’ll spend this year on a journey to reconnect with Maria again. I hope my journey inspires you on your own path to pursue your goals and dreams fearlessly.
This year the Go Get IT Girl blog will feature more articles geared towards helping you do just that. Go for it! The blog will now be updated every Tuesday and Thursday.
Sound off: Tell us what goals your going after in 2012?
Wow Maria, I had this conversation with myself a year ago. I needed a change and was to scare to make it. I decided it was time to overcome this fear and do what would make me happy. See being a wife and mother, you sometimes forget or put last you. I had to find me again and once I did, my fear of making a change in my life disappear. Finding me was not easy but I did it. I am now looking forward to retirement and started the next chapter in my life. I have learned to put me first and do the things that make me happy. Sounds a little selfish but doing so has made me a better person to my husband and children.
As women, we are the caregivers in our families, which is okay. But we have to learn to start with taking care of us first before we can truly take care of others. That was my “ahha” moment last year.
Marsha
Hi Marsha,
Thanks for the response! It’s amazing how our fear snowballs into something bigger, which affects others around us. I feel fortunate to have come to this realization early on in my life. I do believe my ahha moment this year will be just as you said – start by taking care of myself.
~Maria
This man loves and needed this post. Thanks for having enough boldness left to face your fears head on and inspire others in the process.
I’m glad you liked it! Facing your fears is a daily process. Decide what you want to do and then write down steps you need to talk to accomplish what you want. Then just do it. Give us an update on how it goes!