“If you’re dreams don’t scare the shit out of you, you’re not dreaming big enough”
- a lot of people
I first heard this quote at a Creative Mornings talk (https://creativemornings.com/) in Oakland, CA a few years back when I was just starting to try and put my Creative ideas out in the world (and was scared shitless to start doing so). Essentially it was something that I needed to hear at the time and I still think on it every time I get that fear feeling before embarking on a new venture or idea.
It’s not to say that the entire “dreaming process” should only be fear inducing (it gets to be inspiring and empowering too!). But more to validate the fact that it’s okay if your dreams and goals induce fear.
Just don’t let it debilitate you or prevent you from doing what you want to do. Instead, get comfortable with that feeling, understand that it’s natural, and push through it.
A question I always ask myself when I really want to do something but I’m super scared to do it (which pretty much happens EVERY time I start to embark on something big and new) is:
“What’s on the other side of fear?”
In other words, “what’s beyond the fear?” and “what do I get from moving beyond the fear and doing what I dream of doing?”.
Your answer will be more powerful than the current fear you’re feeling.
From “Creative Quick Takes” circa 2019