Stepping out of the Shadows and Into the Light

Why is it such a big scary deal to do something out of our comfort zone?

This was me recently.

I was challenged to do my first ever Facebook live and well, as you can see from the captions, I was “um feeling a little nervous.”

Moments before I went live, I had a talk to myself. Just be yourself, talk from the heart, and be authentic. And then press LIVE and do it.

And dang it all. I did.

After finishing, as you can see from the final seconds caught on the feed, I took a deep breath and exhaled. I did it and it felt amazing.

For so long I’ve been hiding in the shadows, afraid to step into the light and shine bright. I was afraid to be exposed, to be seen, and to feel foolish. I’ve hidden behind my ex-husband, my kids, my community, and my fears.

I let my fears dictate and sabotage my ability to make an impact and connect more deeply with those around me. My fears kept me small and “safe”.

In the shadows I didn’t have to show up. I could let someone else take the spotlight. I was happy to cheer others on and help them shine to their fullest potential.

And yet, I was living the life of a coward. Yup, a coward.

I made all kinds of reasonable excuses and reasons not to step into my power. I believed the bull shit I was telling myself.

WHY?

Because I didn’t want to be responsible for my choices, and staying in the shadows was a choice. It was my comfort zone.

Over the last couple of years I have been taking steps to change this story and to trust the process of stepping out of the shadows. Yesterday I put myself out there and shared my story.

And you know what?

It felt great! I feel empowered and proud of myself.

What is standing in the way of you stepping out of the shadows and into the light?

What would it feel like for you to embrace your light and feel empowered by action and choice?

Take a risk, even a small one, and see – you may surprise yourself.