Overcoming Fear: You Must Do The Thing You Cannot Do

Last updated on February 26th, 2023 at 02:21 pm

Even though I always dreamed of being a motivational speaker to young women across South Africa, the thought of actually doing it scared me to the bone.

Will people want to hear what I have to say?

Will my mind go blank in front of an audience?

Am I crazy?

These are the type of thoughts that bubble up in your mind when you begin going for your dream. It’s just fear of change talking to you and trying to protect you from unforeseen dangers.  Since we live in a modern world and our brains are just catching up to this fact,  you shouldn’t pay attention to these limiting thoughts..

You must still visualize completing your dream and take action in spite of your fears — it’s the only way to get over them.  Do not let fear cloud your dream vision. Understand that fear is a normal part of the dream process and you are not alone because everyone goes through this type of thinking.

Eleanor Roosevelt so wisely said:

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

Can I get an Amen?

Facing my fears has been a big part of my public speaking dream and I am grateful for them because in going after my dream in spite of my fears, I have become a more confident woman.

I’ve worked hard at ignoring the doubting mind.  Whenever my heart begins to race and I feel myself being pulled towards my fearful thoughts, I visualize that I am standing on an international stage speaking to an audience who come far and wide to hear me speak.  When this moment actually happens in my life I will know that it is because I did not let my fears dictate my dream.

Overcoming your fears makes all your sacrifices worth it. Every stumbling block makes you stronger.  Every hardship adds another experience that you can use to become stronger at your dream.

This week, I want to encourage you to put your fear thoughts aside and just go for one thing that you fear — even if you think it’s silly and insignificant. Stretch your fear muscles so that they become stronger.

You must do the thing you think you cannot do to move your dream forward.  Visualize your ultimate outcome on a daily basis — for every vision precedes the goal.

Lao Tzu once said,

“There is no illusion greater than fear.”

The more you hold on to your dream vision, face your fears, and just do the things that you think you cannot do — the more doors will open up to you.

I am grateful because with my dream I get to inspire people with my passion. And yet fear will still come up for me too.

When this happens I do one small thing each day that makes me feel closer to my dream — even if it’s choosing to pretend that I am already living my completed dream while commuting to work. Promise yourself today that this week you will do one thing you think you cannot do to make your dream come true.

If I can do it — you can do it.

Fear and all.