Last week I went on Facebook LIVE for “Talk-Back Tuesday at the Cabaret” for the first time with “Dr. MC’s Self-Care Cabaret.” My plan by going LIVE is to offer support to my followers and share quick and easy techniques to relieve stress and anxiety during these challenging times.  You can watch the video here.

There was a technical difficulty or rather user error (my error) in getting started. I had a pit in my stomach, and I was faced with a choice. I could stop the video and blame it on a technical difficulty or persevere and try again. Which do you think I chose? I persevered and I am so glad that I did. It was a minor glitch, but one that I could have let derail my plan to share self-care advice with my community.

By pushing through, I got to connect with several followers and share my expertise. The Cabaret followers who joined me were supportive and a couple even tried to help me troubleshoot the issue. What a great community.

I can’t wait to go Facebook LIVE again and share more practical self-care information on Tuesday, April 28th @ 12:15PM. 

If I had let the panic take over, I would have undoubtedly felt defeated and sad. Maybe I would have tried again later, maybe not.

I typically have a “just do it” or “push through” mindset when it comes to achieving goals and such. Over the past 6 weeks, with this attitude I have opened doors to new opportunities and experiences allowing myself to grow and expand my capacity. That does not mean that I don’t feel fear (quite the contrary actually), but like Dr. Jeffers says, “feel the fear and do it anyway.”

I have charted new territory with webinars, remote workshops, panel discussions via ZOOM, corporate podcast interviews, and being a guest blogger. 

Last week I referenced the Boulder Journey School Panel I was a part of for early educators. If you would like to view the recorded panel discussion, please click here. The reviews of this 2-hour event have been incredibly positive. It is packed with insight. 

Being on camera via ZOOM is quite different than presenting to a room full of people (which I have no problem doing). I feel vulnerable, exposed, and I don’t have the option to utilize my in-person tricks for audience engagement, so it feels like starting from scratch. This is a new learning experience for me, and if I let fear get in the way…I will not grow. Now I am inspired to keep expanding my skill-set.

Dr. Jeffers offers 5 Truths About Fear from her books that we can all learn from.

FEAR TRUTH #1

The fear will never go away as long as you continue to grow!

Every time you take a step into the unknown, you experience fear. There is no point in saying, “When I am no longer afraid, then I will do it.” You’ll be waiting for a long time. The fear is part of the package.

FEAR TRUTH #2

The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and…do it!

When you do it often enough, you will no longer be afraid in that particular situation. You will have faced the unknown and you will have handled it. Then new challenges await you, which certainly add to the excitement in living.

FEAR TRUTH #3

The only way to feel better about yourself is to go out and…do it!

With each little step you take into unknown territory, a pattern of strength develops. You begin feeling stronger and stronger and stronger.

FEAR TRUTH #4

Not only are you afraid when facing the unknown, so is everyone else!

This should be a relief. You are not the only one out there feeling fear. Everyone feels fear when taking a step into the unknown. Yes, all those people who have succeeded in doing what they have wanted to do in life have felt the fear – and did it anyway. So can you!

FEAR TRUTH #5

Pushing through fear is less frightening than living with the bigger underlying fear that comes from a feeling of helplessness!

This is the one truth that some people have difficulty understanding. When you push through the fear, you will feel such a sense of relief as your feeling of helplessness subsides. You will wonder why you did not take action sooner. You will become more and more aware that you can truly handle anything that life hands you.

Comment below and tell me something wonderful that has happened over the past six weeks? Or something that you have learned?

Stay Well,

Dr. MC