The Habit of Fear

The famous Franklin Roosevelt once said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." This quote has been heard many times and has been requoted, or retweeted nowadays I guess, over the years. Fear is one of the strongest emotions we can experience. It can be paralyzing or exhilarating, it can move us forward or keep us back, or it can actually be a game changer for us and push us to reach our goals. Yes, fear can be motivating, if we decide to make it so. 

I've realized over the past few months that I have an INCREDIBLE amount of fear. It's become a habit for me to look for things that I am afraid of. It makes me sad, but it's so true. On my way to work, I'll be afraid of what the day will look like and if I'll have any difficult clients. When I pay bills, I'm afraid that the money won't actually go through and I'll be late on my payments (which is why I pay things off about 3 weeks before the due date). When I'm talking to someone about nutrition, I'm afraid that they won't care what I have to say and will think I'm silly for encouraging us to eat more vegetables. It's almost natural for me to fear something and have anxiety about a situation. And let me tell you, that is NOT a good habit to have! I've become so used to it, and have embraced it as who I am. It's held me back in the past, but starting now, I am deciding to let it propel me forward instead. I'm deciding to use that fear and let it light a fire under me to prove the fear wrong, push forward, and be the best me I can be. 

Really though, what would you do if you weren't afraid? Would you finally start that business? Would you try that hobby or craft that you've always wanted? Would you pursue that relationship? Would you finally lose the weight? There are so many aspects of our life that we could grow in if fear wasn't stopping us. I refuse to let it hold me back anymore. I was not created to live in fear, so why let it win?

After talking to an amazing friend and mentor yesterday, I've realized that fear is always there, it's always been a part of my life, but now I am deciding to use it as my motivation instead of my detriment. I plan on pursuing my business goals and building what I've always dreamed of. I've decided to not be afraid of what it feels like to actually take care of my body and maintain that kind of health and nourishment. Even if I experience self doubt, and those all too familiar feelings that I actually CAN't build my business and CAN'T pursue my goals, I'm not going to absorb that into my personality. A fearful person is not who I am, and it's not who God created me to be. Now when I feel the fear, I'm not going to become the fear, but rather push passed it, and choose courage instead.

What would you do if you weren't afraid of anything? Comment below! 

Dream Until Your Dreams Come True

I am a huge dreamer. But along with that comes another embarrassing fact: I am an even bigger talker. I tend to talk and plan and dream and yet take no action in the direction of my dreams . I run scared, don't know where to begin, and just stay in my talking, planning, writing stage. While I do believe planning and being prepared are vital components of making any dream into a reality, I think fearless action is the most important step to making any dream come true. And therein lies my problem. I am afraid. I am afraid of failure, defeat, embarrassment, not being able to follow through, and letting people down. I am so afraid that I just stay in my little fear bubble, think, wish, dream, but refuse to act.

I want to take that fearless step this month. While I still have some planning and preparing to do, I want to take that first step. I am working on something that I have dreamt about for about seven years and it is something I want to make a reality in my life. I want to step out in faith, and even if my dream doesn't come to full fruition, I will know that I have at least taken a step in the right direction.

Is there something you have been dreaming about lately? I think dreams and goals are so healthy. They give you direction and focus. They get you excited. They show you what you are truly passionate about. Let's make this month a good one! Let's move in the right direction with these goals and work on making our dreams come true.

Food & Fitness Plan: October 20-26

Happy Monday everyone! I hope everyone has had a great start to the week! I have been feeling queasy and tired all day, so it hasn't been the best for me. But! I decided that looking forward to the week and planning a productive and healthy week for myself would be just what I needed! Today has been difficult, but I feel a lot more positive now looking at the week ahead! Today, 10/20: *I skipped my workout this morning because of not feeling well, so I just had a couple rice cakes before heading out the door, nothing too exciting! This is what the rest of the day looked/will look like: Snack: banana Lunch: rotisserie chicken breast, carrots, rice cakes yet again Snack: larabar Dinner: I am planning on going out with my parents and hopefully will be able to stomach a salad by then! Workout: walk with my Mama!

Tuesday 10/21: Pre-workout: banana with sunbutter Workout: elliptical 4 miles (I am slacking on my 150 miles by Halloween for the TIU Frisky Fall challenge!), the new TIU kettlebell workout Breakfast: sausage and tater bake! This recipe is from a few weeks back and so good! Snack: carrots Lunch: leftover rotisserie chicken breast with salad and avocado Snack: nuts Dinner: picking up Sharky's before Bible study! I'll probably get their power plate with veggies and either chicken or fish! Workout: tentative circuit with Hanna!

Wednesday 10/22: Pre-workout: banana w/sunbutter Workout: Back & biceps workout, run 3 miles Breakfast: scramble with veggies Snack: carrots Lunch: salad with turkey burger Snack: nuts Dinner: up in the air!

Thursday 10/23: Pre-workout: rice cake with PB Workout: leg day! With some cardio :) Breakfast: scramble with veggies, avocado Snack: carrots, jerky Lunch: sausage and taters Snack: nuts Dinner: poker night at my friend's house who always serves healthy yummies :)

Friday (finally!) 10/24: Pre-workout: rice cake or banana w/nut butter Workout: chest, triceps, shoulders, plus a 4 mile run Breakfast: mug cake or scramble Snack: carrots Lunch: last of the sausage and taters sad day! Snack: nuts Dinner: probably going out!

Saturday and Sunday: I am hoping to get a couple good runs in this weekend and stick to my healthy eating plan. Honesty time, I have been letting weekends derail me lately. Treats now and then are totally acceptable, but it's the "now and then" part I've been struggling with! Hoping to be able to stick to it this weekend!

Goals for the week:

* I want to contribute at least 18 miles towards my goal of 150 by Halloween for the Tone it Up Frisky Fall challenge! I am at 123 miles so far and have till Halloween to reach 150! *Do 1 TIU workout this week (hopefully it will be the new kettlebell one!) *SKETCH/go back to my artsy roots! *BLOG more...no need to say more on this one! At least 2-3 posts this week! *Read personal growth books. I am reading two great ones now and really want to invest more time in these motivational reads!

Last but not least, I leave you with this wonderful quote:

I really believe that writing down what we want to do, making lists, and creating an environment that ensures we reach these goals are critical. So put dates on those goals, plan the steps it takes to achieve them, and then just do it! That is the only way to make our dreams come true! :)