“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”
— Dale Carnegie
My husband and I have taken risks in the past, leaving jobs to pursue our own business, dabbling into sales businesses just to get further into debt and have our ambition crushed. Since then I have spent many years content with a 9-5 job. Don’t get me wrong, I am eternally grateful to have a job! One that surrounds me with amazing people and the ability to help others, but I’ve always felt like there was something more out there. Something different I should be doing with my life.
My husband is a photographer, and an amazing one at that! Ever since he brought home his first DSLR camera and I began tinkering with it, the photography bug hit me as well. This has also turned into an interest in videography, and video editing. My “bug” however comes in spurts of excitement and enthusiasm that only lasts a few days, weeks or even months, and then falls victim to the 40+ hour work week, children that need fed and a house that needs cleaned…plus sleep. Who really needs sleep anyway?
So here we are, almost 14 years later since we were married, and we are embarking on another journey together – one that is scary and full of the unknown looming before us. For the planner inside me, this unknown makes the fear creep in. Laying out a plan to become debt free is easy for me. There are numbers, often set incomes, and when you do the math right, you get results! When I start looking at the “what-ifs” of a creative venture, there is so much unknown, skills I don’t have yet and doors that haven’t yet opened. Even writing this out makes me see that what has held me back for so long, despite all of the questions I feel need answered first, really comes down to fear. When did I become so afraid?
My husband has been my constant cheerleader, though at times I wish he would just be content as well (isn’t that easier?!) but he is there pushing, and sometimes prodding me to get out of my comfort zone. This is definitely why we argue sometimes – I’m just not ready to get out of that comfort zone. I don’t want to hear it, and now realize I haven’t wanted to tackle the fear! But almost every time he pushes me, it turns out I actually need it. As annoying as it is sometimes, our conversations almost always spark thoughts and ideas that had already been there, I just hadn’t given myself space and time to think about and capture them. For as much as “we don’t have in common”, we have the most important things – a deep love for each other and a desire to see each other succeed!
Almost one month ago I started this blog, a YouTube channel, Facebook page and Instagram account, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time! Who knows where this is going to lead or what doors will open, but you know what? It’s time. I just need to START! Take the first step, try things out, FAIL, and keep trying. Push fear aside, trust my husband, trust God, make plans, learn new skills…BREATHE…and start putting one foot in front of the other.
Where this will lead me, nobody knows! But we are taking that next step together, and that is the most important part.
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