Ever wish you could break free and just face your fears?
Once we sold our home to travel full-time in our RV, we started encountering new experiences on what seemed like a daily basis! And it really became more and more inconvenient to live in fear…especially once there were so many new things that made me fearful.
Fear became one of my worst enemies, always lurking…constantly threatening to make me miss out on potentially wonderful experiences.
I’m still a work in progress in this regard, but one way I’ve started conquering some of my fears is by adopting the following super simple 4-step strategy:
1. Realize that I’m afraid of “X”.
2. Ask myself if I want to remainafraid of “X.”
3. If the answer is “no,” then I ask myself what I would do if I were NOT afraid of “X.”
4. Then I go ahead and do THAT!
I know it sounds too simple to be useful, but it works! I think it works, perhaps, because it reminds me that being afraid is a choice!!!
And then I realize that I can’t really sit around feeling sorry for myself because I’m afraid…because I am the one deciding that it’s scary.
And, honestly, I’m just sick of being afraid of things!!!
This little trick works for physical fears (for example, I’ve been conquering fears of heights, bridges, etc.) or psychological fears (like speaking in front of crowds for example) or any kind of fears you may have.
Are YOU tired of living in fear?! Then, I’d love for you to give this little trick a try and let me know how it goes!
Oh, and if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to my blog for more tips for living the healthy, happy life you soooooooooo deserve!
Enjoying some Fish ‘n’ Chips on South Padre Island (the napkin bib was just a joke for this pic FYI)
OMG! I just realized it’s been 2 years since I posted Part 1 of this article (in which I may have “promised” you more details “soon.” Ooooops!).
Well, better later than never, aye?
Okay…so…in Part 1, I explained that during the past several years of our travels, I’ve finally gotten up the nerve to lighten up a bit on my 100% additive-free diet.” I’d say I’m in more of an 80/20 sort of situation these days – 80% additive-free, 20% eating for fun, fellowship, etc.
Our friends surprised us with a beach picnic for our Anniversary!!
After about 7 years of eating only “clean” foods and not eating any typical American processed foods nor going out to eat, nor partaking in social food events, etc., I’ve started doing all of these things now…at least to some extent.
(And I’m including a bunch of photos here of things I’ve eaten during the past few years for those of you who’d like to see some examples of exactly what I mean.)
Chad used to eat Chicken Chimichangas before we changed our diet, so I took him out for one at this cute lil’ place on the beach in Santa Cruz, CA.
Throughout the many years I spent coaching folks on how to clean up their diets, one of the most frequent questions I would get from readers and clients is, “Do you ever go out to eat?” And for many years, my answer was always, “No. never.”
And, really, that fact more than any other obstacle seemed to discourage people from eating “cleaner.” At the time, I really didn’t understand that because I felt soooooo good that I didn’t even desire to go out to eat or to partake in any foods that were less “clean” than I preferred.
Buuuuuuut….a few years ago, I started to feel differently about things.
Eventually, I just started to feel like I was “missing out” sometimes. And I’d never felt that way before.
I’m a sucker for dining just about anywhere with waterfront seating.
During our full-time RV travels, we would sometimes come across cute, quirky little places that looked like they’d be fun places to dine. But I wouldn’t go.
Or we’d come across free samples of local fare, and I’d be too scared to try a bite.
Or we’d do a favor for someone along our journey, and they’d want to take us to dinner to thank us. And we’d politely decline.
And then..one day during our travels, we were on a tour of San Francisco. We landed in China Town at lunch time, and I could tell that Chad was longing for some Chinese food. (Before we started eating an additive-free diet, we used to go out for Chinese food quite frequently.)
Enjoying Orange Chicken at a Chinese restaurant
I knew I would make his day if I offered to eat Chinese food with him…in China Town.
So, I took the “plunge.” And, honestly, even as I’m writing this years later, I still can’t believe I did it. I was soooooooo nervous, and I didn’t eat very much. But it’s a memory we look back upon fondly. And I’m glad we did it!
I’m definitely not saying that any of this is good for my health, and I’m definitely not encouraging (or discouraging) you from doing the same.
Enjoying burgers with an ocean view.
But, I definitely wanted to post an update for you about how much my diet has changed these past few years.
I do, now, enjoy going out to eat (and ordering more than water!)…and I’ve eaten holiday meals (and “just because” meals) with family and friends on many, many occasions these past few years.
I’ve even eaten some regular ol’ processed candy just to see if I would like it the same as I did before I ever stopped eating it! (Turns out…not so much!)
Basically, if I feel like I might be missing out on something these days…an experience… or fellowship…or sometimes just simply the flavor or convenience of something, then I’m generally willing to consider giving it a try.
Eating “famous” BBQ Ribs on a deck overlooking the bay on Padre Island
Of course, I still fully believe it’s physiologically healthier to eat a 100% additive-free diet. And I’ve actually been inching my way back closer to that end of the spectrum lately.
I have put on some weight these past few years (which I can’t say is entirely due to the dietary changes, of course), and I don’t always feel quite as amazingly healthy as I used to. But, for now, the joy and freedom I gain from being less strict with my diet is totally worth it!
I definitely believe that our health is determined by many factors in addition to our diets…with our mental state being very high on the list. You may disagree, and that’s okay.
Loosening up on my dietary restrictions has brought me much excitement and fellowship and also encouraged me to believe that I’ll be able to travel more freely in the future (perhaps internationally?) without having to be so 100% concerned with every ingredient in every thing that passes through my lips.
And that has been so incredibly liberating!
Chad enjoying a complimentary Birthday Beer on our Alaskan Airlines flight
So…how about you? Do you eat an entirelyadditive-free diet? Why or why not?
What factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to eat certain foods? We’d love to hear from you!
Oh, and here are a bunch of additional pics from the past few years in case you want to see more…
Chinese dining in a cute little mountain town
Enjoying a Thanksgiving potluck with coworkers
Best Caesar salad I’ve ever had – in Morro Bay, CA
Donuts – didn’t enjoy them like we used to
Dinner on the wharf
Lunch on the wharf
Dinner on the wharf
Tried Fish Tacos for the first time ever!
Airport lunch
Chad enjoys beer
Chad’s first flight (sampler) of beer – on Padre Island
It’s not very often that I read an e-book and love, love, LOVE it….but this one from Tracy McCullough (creator of TheLoveVitamin.com) ROCKED my socks off!
Please note, I do not profit from you purchasing this book through the links on this page. I simply LOVED the book and want to pass this great info along to all of you! 🙂
want a more fulfilling life (the kind that makes you wake up feeling excited)
can’t figure out what on earth your passion even is
need help finding the courage to follow your heart
are looking for ways to find the time and/or money to pursue your dreams
struggle with believing in yourself or your dreams
constantly procrastinate
are too scared to leap into the unknown
want to make a living from your passion
It’s also a great book for those of us who are already taking leaps to follow our dreams. First, it’s always great to get a behind-the-scenes peek at someone else who has done the same in their own life. And, second, the book is full of new tips and interesting perspectives that you likely haven’t come across before that will help propel you even further along your heart’s path!
Through her extremely honest accounts in this e-book, Tracy shares just how she felt at every step along the way to reaching her dreams – and all of it really resonated with me! Good stuff! From how it feels in the beginning when your confidence sucks and you find excuses around every corner…to how rewarding and fulfilling it is when you finally give in and start tuning into your intuition…to how amazing it feels when you start reaping the rewards (the emotional kind and the monetary kind) of taking the scary leaps to follow your dreams!
This 100+ page book is jam-packed with concrete “do-able” action steps, real-world examples that make things crystal clear, and lots of great step-by-step exercises to increase our confidence and get us taking action now!!
As Tracy says on page 17, there’s one thing for sure….No one ever looked back on life as they were dying and said, “Wow! I’m so happy I didn’t follow my dreams!”
Alright, so it’s time everyone! Get out there and start discovering your passion and following your dreams!
And if you need a little nudge or some invaluable tips, be sure to order this book!
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Oh, and I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts after you dive into this awesome book! So be sure to come back here and comment below when you’re done!!!
Yes, you! I’m talking to you! You…the one who has been pretending not to know that you are “supposed” to be taking a certain action – quitting your job, leaving a relationship, moving to a new town, expressing your true emotions to a loved one, checking in with your doctor…or whatever it may be!
Please, stop ignoring that inner nudging! It’s your built-in guidance system, and it’s trying to steer you toward the best version of you!
Although it can be scary to think about making the “leap” and trusting your gut (especially in a society so dedicated to weighing the “pros and cons” of things all of the time), it’s been my experience that “leaps of faith” (when rooted in truly listening to one’s own heart), will not disappoint! Sure it’s scary! Definitely uncomfortable…and filled with all sorts of “what ifs.” Yes, I know. But just stick with me here, and open your mind to taking even one small leap that you haven’t had the courage to take before. Start with something small. And when it works out (and the “worst thing that could happen”….doesn’t happen), you’ll build your confidence in the process and work your way up to bigger leaps of faith.
It’s so easy to imagine all the things that could go wrong if we decide to start making the changes we desire in our lives. But if you sit down and really concentrate, I’m sure you could generate a list just as long of all of the things that could go wrong even if you don’t make those same changes! Yes, that’s right…tons of awful things could happen to you right now…as you sit there in your comfort zone with a white-knuckle grip on all of your perceived sources of security. Not to be harsh, but the fact of the matter is that nothing is guaranteed. And if you never take a leap, at least one of those “things that could go wrong while you’re sitting there” is definitely going to happen – you won’t be living the life you dream about! Sigh…(not good)!
I’ve learned from experience during the past couple of years that it feels so wonderful to follow your inner voice, and it really does not lead you astray! My most recent experience with my “inner voice” was the shaving of my head. (NOTE: If you’re not too interested in the soul-bearing example I’m about to share regarding my farewell to my hair, please bear with me as I really feel that you’ll find value in this example regardless of the type of leap you are considering.)
MY “LEAP” – To shave…or not to shave!
So…my husband wasn’t really too “comfortable” with the idea of me shaving my head, but I knew I just had to do it. Even after a month without my hair, I still don’t feel that the reasons why I needed to shave it so badly have been 100% revealed to me….but I do know that I do feel so much more me(if that makes sense to you), and I feel incredibly free without my hair!!! I definitely don’t miss my “bed head,” and I really don’t miss feeling differently about myself from day-to-day based on how I felt my hair looked!
So here’s how it all went down….
I’d been feeling the urge to shave my head quite strongly for several months, but I kept delaying the leap for…ya know, solid “logical” reasons (wink, wink). Actually, looking back on things, I can recall wanting to shave my head for many years, really, but I never really entertained it as an actual possibility until about 6 months ago.
As time went by, the inner nudging became more and more relentless. Finally, one day about a month or so ago….I found myself pushing my hair down with my hands every time I’d catch my reflection in a mirror…and I realized that I just did not feel like my true self anymore with my hair – although I wasn’t really sure why I felt this way. It didn’t really make sense to me, but the urging was so strong that I knew a head shaving was inevitable.
That night as my hubby and I were going to sleep, I found myself overcome with emotion – I was actually sobbing to him in bed about wanting to shave my head. Emotions sure do have a way of showing you the direction you are supposed to be heading in life! I wasn’t actually feeling sad. I was feeling tormented by the idea of resisting this hair cut any longer. And the emotion was stroooong – like, impossible to ignore. All-consuming, really. Another clear sign that a “leap” was in order! I kept trying to explain to him why I needed to shave my head….not that I had any kind of explanation that would make sense to another human being. LOL! Finally, I realized that there really weren’t “reasons”….it was a feeling. When he realized that my desire to shave my head was coming from a place so deep inside me that I had no control over it, he assured me that he’d support me in whatever I decided to do.
The next morning, I awoke before him as usual. Again, I was feeling like a different person than what was staring back at me in the mirror. I grabbed a bandana and covered my hair in an attempt to approximate what I’d look like with a shaved head. I’m not sure where the idea came from, but I grabbed a hand mirror and stood facing a wall mirror while holding the hand mirror at a particular angle so that the bandana wasn’t too visible in my reflection (as you can see in this photo to the left – feel free to click the photo to enlarge if you’d like).
I took a picture of this pose with the intention of showing it to my hubby so he could get an idea of what I would look like with no hair… but something much more unexpected came from that photograph! When I saw the picture of my face compared to the smaller reflection of my face in the hand mirror in this photograph…it was like looking into my soul….the reflection in the hand mirror seemed like me…and the other shot of my face did not. I can’t really explain it, but that’s how it felt. The whole experience reminded me of that song, “Reflection,” by Christina Aguilera. (You can check out the song in the video at the end of this post – Perhaps you’ll find something in the song for you, too!) To me, that person in the hand mirror seemed so incredibly happy, content, and “whole.” The strange thing was that I had always considered myself to be perfectly content, happy and whole. So that feeling really caught me off guard! (I also found it symbolic that the reflection of my face is actually over my heart in this photo, which was in no way intentional.)
So….in that moment, I knew I’d be shaving my head very soon! 🙂 Oh, and if you’re wondering….I did still use the photo to “explain” things to my hubby. And, far from what I was expecting….it still made no sense to him. LOL! So funny…because I thought it all seemed so objectively clear at this point! Seriously…from the way I felt, I assumed he’d take one look at that picture and know exactly what I was talking about and relate to how I was feeling. Well…not so much!
So that’s when I realized….thiswas between meand my soul. And there was no need to convince anyone else…even my beloved husband! 🙂
Even though he didn’t understand (and now I realize his understanding really wasn’t necessary), he did help me shave my head. And, after a few days of getting over the “shock” every time he saw me with no hair (a problem I had, as well. LOL!), he was pleasantly surprised that my lack of hair didn’t bother him at all like he had assumed it would. Aesthetically, I’m sure we both prefer me with a hair-do of some sort; but we have both seen how much more I’ve “come into my own” by taking this leap…and “looks” were never a factor in the decision at all (in case anyone is wondering).
So…How about YOU ?!
If there’s something you have been wanting to do but you’ve been resisting it, I urge you to sit down and think about what’s really (I mean….really!) stopping you!!!
Most things in life aren’t “permanent.” And you may end up kicking yourself if you never give it a try.
You may just find that sitting there wondering what you must be missing out on actually turns out to be much worse than whatever outcome you fear if you go ahead and DO it! So GO…FOR… IT!
You only get one chance at this life, so make sure you’re living the life you want to live!!! Believe me…I know it’s scary to step outside your comfort zone. After the last couple years I’ve had (full of leaping), I’m starting to have trouble recalling what my comfort zone even looks like! LOL! But the feeling of FREEDOM is soooooooooo worth all of the “fear conquering” involved along the way!
I blog about a lot of things, but if there was just one message I could spread to the world, it would be to listen to your inner voice! Do you agree? If so, please forward this post in an email message to anyone you’d like to encourage to do so!
Oh, and be sure to “follow” my blog (over in the left margin of this page) in case I decide to purge my soul on the Internet again sometime soon. LOL!
Alright, enough about me! Your turn! I’d love to hear from you in the comments below! What leaps are you resisting….or what experiences have you had with listening to and following your inner voice? Oh, and here’s that song, “Reflection,” that I mentioned above…
Even though he didn’t understand (and now I realize his understanding really wasn’t necessary), he did help me shave my head. And, after a few days of getting over the “shock” every time he saw me with no hair (a problem I had, as well. LOL!), he was pleasantly surprised that my lack of hair didn’t bother him at all like he had assumed it would. Aesthetically, I’m sure we both prefer me with a hair-do of some sort; but we have both seen how much more I’ve “come into my own” by taking this leap…and “looks” were never a factor in the decision at all (in case anyone is wondering).
You only get one chance at this life, so make sure you’re living the life you want to live!!! Believe me…I know it’s scary to step outside your comfort zone. After the last couple years I’ve had (full of leaping), I’m starting to have trouble recalling what my comfort zone even looks like! LOL! But the feeling of FREEDOM is soooooooooo worth all of the “fear conquering” involved along the way!
Completely Nourished 