Fears are Stories We Tell Ourselves

Fear is a feeling most of us want to avoid because it is usually associated with something we don't want to face. It means we will have to deal with a situation that will be unknown, uncomfortable and sometimes unbearable.

However, in certain situations, fear is the part of an experience that makes it so worth it. It's that fire that makes us feel ALIVE - if you are brave enough to take the chance.

Back in August, I was offered a new job by a company I admired, and whose values I shared. Although I absolutely knew it was a good fit, I had the fear. Well actually, many fears.

Here is a list of my fears:

- something new = something scary
- what if I let people down
- what if I'm not that good at this new job
- what if they fire me (you never know)
- what if it's not right for my family
- what if it pushes me to do some scary things (more fear)
- what if I regret my decision

What you have to understand is that I had been with the same employer for well over 10 years, and frankly, I had it good. Great boss, great co-workers, cool job, and most importantly, comfort. Comfort knowing the schedule worked for my family, and that I understood my job very well. But is the grass greener on the other side? Was it worth the risk switching to something new?

I spent two weeks during my summer vacation weighing the pros and the cons. But no matter how I sliced it, the pros were kicking the cons butts. I must have talked it through with everyone I knew, even though I knew very well what was holding me back. It was that scary, dark monster named fear.

Then the universe started throwing signs at me, as it always seems to do! I kept hearing people talk in the media about how fear was the part that made them realize the decision was a good one because the fear represented a challenge and personal growth. And that if the new challenge was amazing, it was because you overcame those unknowns and those fears. Okay universe - I hear you loud and clear!

So I did take the plunge. I made the change. And it was new, and it was scary but it has lit a spark in my life that I am so thankful for. I've had to learn so many new things, and have had to push myself outside my comfort zone, and it has affected my entire life. Not only do I wake up early every day to workout, I am a firm believer in goal setting and gratitude journaling. The new job has lead me to the world of podcasts - they are such an important tool when you want to learn from experts on any subject. And it's also inspired me to get blogging again. My love for writing has been reignited. I'm so grateful.

I just happened to be watching Dancing with the Stars yesterday, when Bethany Mota said something that totally jumped out at me. She said, "I decided to do Dancing with the Stars because it absolutely terrified me. I thought, it's about time to just go for it. " For her to challenge the fear monster at her age, knowing it would make her a better person, speaks to her wisdom.

Fear, yeah it can be a very unwelcome customer sometimes. But I bet if you look back on the scariest times in your life, you will agree that facing the fear has made you grow and become a better person. Fear reminds you what it feels like to be alive and to take risks. So next time you feel fear crawling into your stomach like a big knot, take that energy and go with it. It might be the best decision you ever made.

Quiet Breakfast

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Or in our case, not even a cat or a dog or a cat.

5 Reasons You Need To Join The 5 O'Clock Club

On my last post, I vaguely mentioned that I am a proud member of the 5 o'clock club. For those of you who don't know what the 5 o'clock club is, well let me enlighten you! It's pretty simple. There's a secret group of crazy people that get up hours before most even hit the snooze button. These insane people get up at 5am... on purpose. And I am a proud member of this club. Honestly, it has completely changed my life. I text two other members at 5am to keep us all accountable too!

Here are 5 reasons why you should be part of this crazy cool club:

My tic-toc clock

1. Time ALONE
I'm a mom, wife, employee... You get where I'm going with this. I rarely get a minute alone! But when I get up at 5am and quietly tiptoe to the main floor of our house, it is so quiet. I can actually hear the clock on my piano tick. It's a wonderfully, delicious sound.


2. Eating without interruptions
Again, if you're a parent, you know that it's unusual to sit down for an entire meal without being interrupted by spills, fights or other miscellaneous mishaps. When I sit down with my breakfast, and there is no one around to bother me, it feels like an indulgence. I can eat without little fingers in my food, and I can take my time.




3. Getting your workout out of the way
When I first get my feet on the floor and my behind out of bed, I'll admit, I'm not super thrilled with the idea of heading to our basement to do my workout. But once I get down there and start, I know that euphoric feeling that comes after a workout is just minutes away, and my whole day will be better because of it. I usually aim to workout every day (some days are lighter than others) but even if I miss a day or two, I've still managed to get in 5 or 6 days a week. Exercising has such a tremendous effect on most aspects of your life. So just do it, will ya! I find it makes me happier and more productive.



4. Quiet time to set goals

Another part of my personal development that I absolutely love is the time I spend setting goals for my life, both longterm and daily. I revisit my crazy cool goals for the year on a weekly basis, and set daily goals related to my longterm life goals and my health goals. I carry my notepad with me all day long so I can check the tasks off my goal list for the day. I love knowing that I'm working toward my family's goals EVERY SINGLE DAY with momentum and passion.



5. A relaxed pace
I wake up two and a half hours before I have to leave for work so this gives me lots of time to get ready at my own pace, and properly organize my family in the morning. My kids have also started waking up a bit earlier - probably because I'm awake earlier too. They usually wake up around 6-6:30 which gives us all time to unwind before we set out for school, daycare and work. Even my daycare provider mentioned how much happier my little guy has been since he's had some time to relax before being whisked out the door.

Are you part of the 5 o'clock club? What do you love about it? Or, if the idea of waking up at 5am is disturbing to you, tell us why! I'd love to hear your feedback.

The Best Goal Setting Book - Push

A lot of people have been noticing how I've just seemed more focused and energetic in the last few months. There are a few reasons for this change in my mojo: The first big thing is that I started a new job that I love which allows me to write and work with clients on their social media strategies. I've learned so much with this new challenge, and it's help me grow in ways I couldn't even imagine, even though I just started a few months ago. I'm so grateful for such an amazing opportunity to flex some new muscles!

But the biggest change that has come into my life has been in the form of a book. A few months ago, a friend of mine had been posting about some personal development books she had read and when I asked what her fave was, she said hands down it was PUSH: 30 Days to Turbocharged Habits, a Bangin' Body, and the Life You Deserve!


You might know Chalene from her Turbo Jam videos through Beach Body, and more recently, her PiYo videos. But on top of her amazing ability to motivate people through fitness, she has become a personal development maven and business coach for thousands of people. And she's really good at it!

"Push" is meant to help you focus on your fitness by setting goals but it is really about setting goals for your entire life. At the beginning of the book, Chalene gets you to write out your "10 Crazy Cool Goals" for the year. These are your biggest dreams and goals - you can think as big as you want. Nothing is off limits!  So one morning, at 6am, I started dreaming of the biggest and coolest goals I could think of for my family. Some of them were financially related, others were family-centered, while others were related to health. It was awesome to see these dreams etched across the page of my pretty little notebook. I had a plan!

The idea is to take these crazy cool goals, brainstorm how you're going to get there, and write daily goals to help you move in that direction. As part of my new personal development strategy, I've started waking up at 5am to exercise, and to sit down to write my goals for the day. Although it was SO hard getting up early in the first few days, this time of day has now become my solace. It's the only time of day I can dedicate to me. And I selfishly LOVE IT!

Chalene gives you 30 days of practical steps to change your habits and your life. Who doesn't have 30 days to try it out?

Since following "Push", I've "pushed" myself to learn more about so many avenues related to my goals. Podcasts have been the greatest learning tool. Whether I'm in my car or in the shower, I am always listening to podcasts related to health, personal development or social media (for work). My two favourites are, you guessed it, The Chalene Show which is geared toward personal development, and Building Your Tribe which is related to social media. Chalene does a fabulous job of keeping her shows fun but very informative. And these podcasts are FREE. I love them! There are other amazing podcasts I listen to as well but I'll talk about those in another post.

I am setting a challenge for all of you to start your own personal development journey TODAY, whatever that may be. Maybe it's just waking up a little earlier to get some exercise time in before the family wakes up, or maybe it's to start listening to podcasts that help you discover your gifts. I just encourage you to take one step to help find your passion in life. Make sure to tell me what your first step will be!

And if you have any questions about this life-changing book or personal development in general, I'd love to help you figure out your crazy cool goals. Send me a message and I'll be your personal cheerleader! I will be including more personal development challenges to this blog so keep checking back. Until then, find your purpose and rock it!