Earlier this year I launched a new and improved version of my monthly women’s group, Belleconnecta (formerly Authentic Girlfriends Circle – AGC). The idea was to bring a bunch of awesome women together and pop them into a structured program that would help them make positive changes in their lives. Last year, in 2014, the AGC was drop-in, so there were different participants and standalone concepts covered each month. This year the group is membership based, so members get to see the same women each month to build friendships, and I can build on each month’s material to create a more cohesive and impactful framework.
We’re about two months into the new format, and while I’m still working out some kinks to make the group as effective as possible, I love (love!) the group’s energy and vibe. The participants are top notch. The program is working- little by little positive changes are being made. There’s laughter and connection and inspiration. I’m so excited to see what will happen over the next few months in these women’s lives.
This is all good news. Except for one tiny thing. I want to offer this amazing experience to more women. I specifically want to try to launch a new group in April. This freaks me out. Will I be able to fill another group? Will my ideas for spreading the word work? Am I really onto something here, or was this first group a delightful fluke? I don’t know what will happen next. I feel uncertain, a bit uneasy, and intimidated.
The feelings I’m having around growing my women’s group are the same emotions that most anyone would feel when they’re trying to attempt something they haven’t done before. These feelings are normal and just part of the process. I’ve felt these same things when I launched my website, published my first blog post, shared an offer on Facebook, started going to a Crossfit gym, gave my first speech, attended a networking event I’d never been to before, reached out to guests to be a part of my Energize Your Workweek challenge. You get the idea.
My palms have been sweating each and every time I’ve stepped up to the plate to do something unfamiliar. It’s not a pleasant feeling. But I’ve made a habit of moving through these feelings time and again. I know for sure that they won’t kill me. I know that the uncomfortable feelings will go away when I take action. And I know that I can handle whatever happens next.
In fact, I actually make a point of looking for areas where I feel uncertain or frightened. I try to pounce on these areas quickly, because I know that doing so will move me to my next level of growth.
Do you have something on the horizon that is freaking you out? Here are ten ways to think about venturing into the unknown that will help you to move forward. I promise, on the other side of those fears and uncertainties lies a bigger, more interesting world and a stronger you.
10 Attitudes to Help You with Venturing into the Unknown
- Let’s give it a go and see what happens.
- There will be many opportunities to try again after this. I don’t have to get it right on the first try. I just need to get started to give myself the opportunity to learn.
- You never know unless you try. (Our brains can imagine possible scenarios, but there’s only one way to see what actually happens- by taking action in the real world.)
- Taking action will help me to move through the discomfort and move forward with my life.
- In the scheme of things, this really isn’t such a big deal.
- No matter what happens I will celebrate the effort and feel proud of myself for trying.
- The effort, not the outcome, is what matters.
- It’ll be interesting to see what happens. I can learn and improve based on this new information.
- Feel the fear and do it anyway.
- I’m strong enough and brave enough to see this through.
Good luck! Please share any attitudes that help you to move through fear of the unknown in the comments below.
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