A couple of weeks ago, I noticed I was avoiding “success”. 

Yep, I was avoiding booking clients because I had a fear that if my business gets too successful, I’ll lose myself in serving my clients, I’ll lose my peace of mind, I won’t have time for family, and things will get too complex. 

Believe it or not, it’s not an uncommon fear. 

In essence, I was playing it safe – avoiding fear:  fear of success, fear of overwhelm, fear of failure, fear of judgement.

But fortunately a girl has options.

Instead, what if fear could trigger celebration, curiosity and wonder?

For example, when fear shows up, what if I thought of it as if it’s good news? 

Here’s the good news …

• It’s showing me where in my life I can transform. 
• It’s just indicating that I’m growing, inviting me into my uncomfortable zone, so I can allow even more of what I want into my life.

And, what if this thing I’m fearing IS the doorway to healing my self-image, to more confidence, to discovering my strengths, my genius, my brilliance and expanding my capacity for the success I would love?”

Truth bomb:

In the best of times and in the worst of times, there is always a part of us that is arguing for the status quo, wanting to keep us safe, 

… and there is always a part of us ready to soar, expand, play and party. And they’re both valuable.  

The point is, there’s nothing going wrong, when fear tries to stop us from doing something new. 

I’m not talking about the kind of fear that arises when we’re in actual danger. 

I’m not suggesting you don’t listen to the fear. I’m talking about the kind of fear that is simply information, meant to inform us, not keep us stuck. 

Fear shows up in all of our lives. Sometimes it’s loud and obvious. Other times it’s quiet. More like a tight chest, a racing thought, or that subtle pressure that makes you doubt yourself.

But what if fear didn’t have to mean avoid or stop?

Lately, I’ve been exploring a different response. Instead of letting fear stall me, or even derail me, I’ve been using it as a cue to get curious. It sounds simple, but it’s been a game-changer.

When I notice fear creeping in, through my thoughts, emotions, or body, I take a breath and ask a new question:

Hmmmm, isn’t this interesting?

That one question immediately shifts the moment. It helps me step out of the swirl and into observation. From there, I might ask:

• What is there for me to learn here?
• What quality would I love to bring into this moment?
• If I knew this was happening for me, not to me, what is the deeper message?
• What’s a more empowering thought I can think about this situation?

These are questions that give me back my agency. They help me move forward, not in denial of fear, but with it, using it as a springboard instead of a wall.

In staying open to these types of questions, answers will come. 

And from those answers, from those ideas that are on the frequency of love and possibility, I can move forward, knowing the action I take will lead to something wonderful and uplifting.

Not because I’ve arrived at some perfect feeling, but because I’ve taken a step in a more life-giving direction, one decision at a time.

The goal isn’t to make fear go away. It’s part of the human experience. But it doesn’t have to be leading our decisions either. 

And it doesn’t have to define the moment or the story. We can acknowledge it, get curious, and choose again.

This isn’t about bypassing or ignoring that which triggers our nervous system – worry, fear, self-doubt. It’s about giving our desired intention more, or at least the same amount of “air time”. 

It’s about giving our attention to the thoughts we do want to lead us, in real time. Because that curious, wonder-led mindset increases the “good” we allow ourselves to receive.

So next time fear knocks, don’t just freeze or flee. Pause. Breathe. Get curious. And decide what quality you’d love to bring into the moment.

That moment might be the beginning of something better than you expected.

With encouragement,
Cynthia

P.S. Been feeling a little stressed, stuck, or off balance lately, and know you need a refresh? It’s not just you, and support is here! 

Join me for a free workshop on August 21st for a new infusion of motivation and solutions WITH practical steps to keep you on track. 

Sign up here to join us and create a fabulous start to Fall: https://cynthiawattsmurphy.eventbrite.com