What is your version of a “holy sh*t!” kind of life?
When I was a teenager, I found an old birthday card that said:
“Life is too short to not arrive at your grave thinking ‘Holy sh*t, what a ride!’“
The card had a picture of a woman driving a convertible, wind in her hair, as she clearly loved every minute of her fast and furious ride. I tucked that card into the corner of my bedroom mirror so I could look at it every day.
I was 16 and remember thinking, “I want to arrive at my grave thinking that I had a holy sh*t kind of life!”
I didn’t know what that life looked like, but I had a feeling that it wasn’t a life that felt comfortable and safe.
To live a holy sh*t kind of life, I knew I’d have to say “yes” to what scares me.
What is your version of a “holy sh*t” kind of life?
What feels scary in creating that life?
A holy sh*t kind of life happens when we’re willing to deprive ourselves of comfort in service of our dreams.
Comfort is nice.
Discomfort is scary.
Scary is where the big, bold holy sh*t dreams live.
This summer, I’ve decided to embark on a journey to strengthen my comfort with discomfort.
I’m calling it my “Summer of Bravery”.
This summer, I plan to say “yes” to anything that makes my stomach twinge.
If there’s something I’ve been delaying because it’s uncomfortable, I’m doing it.
Why?
The most effective way to remove fear is to expose ourselves to what scares us.
I love this quote by Hellen Keller:
“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.”
A holy sh*it kind of life is the result of stepping into our fears, not running away from them.
If I can be bold and vulnerable for a moment, here are some of my fears:
Backing up our camper
Completing physical challenges
Performing in improv comedy (this is silly, but it sounds terrifying!)
Not hitting my financial business goals
Writing a book
When I look back on my “holy sh*t” life, I want to have checked off many of these items on my list, knowing that fear never got the best of me.
My initial “Summer of Bravery” list includes:
Learning to back up the camper
Run a race
Take an improv comedy class
Line up four more speaking opportunities for my business
Complete a book outline
Some of my items are small, some feel big. The point is not what is on the list; the point is to have a list at all.
I invite you to join me by intentionally identifying one fear that you can go after this summer.
Add it to your list.
Next time the idea of doing something makes your stomach twinge, add that to your list too.
Tell me in the comments, what’s one fear you’ll add to your “Summer of Bravery” list?
Let’s make this the bravest summer yet, tackling one fear at a time.
P.S. Let’s work together! Here’s how:
1:1 coaching: I can help you create your most joyful life and career by facing your fears head-on. Book a free call to explore working together this month.
Company workshops and speaking: I offer company workshops and conference keynotes on topics related to team building, equity and inclusion, confidence, negotiation, navigating change, and more. I’ve worked with companies like Accenture, Ecolab, HEI Hotels & Resorts, the University of Minnesota, and others. Get in touch to explore how I can help your team.
Open Hours: If you’ve been recently laid off, I invite you to join me for a free “Open Hour” - a safe space to share, listen, and process the emotions related to this big life change. Sign up for an Open Hour here.
On the latest episode of Successful: The Podcast: Forks in the Road
I co-host a podcast called “Successful”, which is all about women who are redefining success in their lives and careers to live with more joy.
In the latest episode, my co-host, Natalie, and I talk about important career decisions we’ve made recently, how we’ve managed our mindsets through the process, and using “holographic thinking” to assess logic, emotion, and intuition as inputs for making decisions.
Click here to listen to episode #35: Forks in the Road.
One last quick note: I’ll be on vacation next week, enjoying the remote mountains of Pennsylvania with my family. I’ll be back on May 23rd with more on joy and an update on my Summer of Bravery. See you then!