Do It Scared.
If you’ve ever waded into the deep end of a swimming pool without knowing how to swim, congratulations—you’ve mastered the art of doing it scared. (Also, what were you thinking?) Whether it’s jumping into unknown waters or finally saying “no” to Karen from accounting, fear is the ultimate sign that you’re about to grow…or make a TikTok-worthy mistake. Either way, it’s worth it.
Here’s the thing about fear: it’s not a sign to stop. It’s just your brain going, “Are you sure about this?” And sometimes, you need to answer, “No, but I’m doing it anyway.”
The Big Myth: Courage Means No Fear
Let’s debunk this right now. Courage doesn’t mean you’re fearless. It means you’re willing to show up scared, sweaty-palmed, and slightly nauseous, but you’re doing it anyway. It’s like showing up to your first cycling class in the front row. You’re petrified, but guess what? Everyone else is too busy watching the instructor to notice you struggling… in fact, they’re probably struggling behind you.
Fear is your built-in survival mechanism. It keeps you from touching hot stoves or sending texts like “U up?” at 2 a.m. But it also tries to keep you cozy and safe when you need to be bold and brave. The trick? Learn to tell the difference between “this could kill me” fear and “this could change me” fear.
Fear’s Greatest Hits:
The Fear of Failure: What if I mess up? Spoiler alert: You probably will. And then you’ll learn, try again, and get better. Failing isn’t fatal. It’s just feedback.
The Fear of What People Will Think: Pro tip: Most people are too busy thinking about their own lives to care about yours. Also, are these people paying your bills? No? Then why are you letting them live rent-free in your head?
The Fear of Not Being Ready: Newsflash—nobody feels ready. The secret is starting before you think you are. Baby birds don’t wait to fly until they’re pros. They just flap like maniacs and hope for the best. And guess what? They eventually soar.
How to Do It Scared:
Name the Fear: Write it down. What’s the worst that could happen? (No, you probably won’t die. Unless you’re considering skydiving without a parachute. Then maybe rethink this blog as your life coach and look for some licensed help.)
Take a Baby Step: Don’t overwhelm yourself by staring at the whole mountain. Just find the next foothold. Want to start a business? Reserve the domain name. Want to get healthy? Drink some water. Baby steps lead to big leaps.
Tell Someone: Sharing your fear with a trusted friend can take its power down a notch. Bonus points if they’re a hype person who says things like, “You’ve got this, superstar!” while you ugly cry.
Reframe the Stakes: Instead of thinking, “What if this goes wrong?” try, “What’s the best that could happen?” Because sometimes the best does happen, and you’ll wish you hadn’t waited so long.
My "Do It Scared" Moment
A few years ago, I left a job I’d been at for almost a decade to pursue what I had previously considered to be a “side hustle”. When I tell you that I was downright terrified, I mean the day before I told my job I wanted to quit, I puked for an hour. I was afraid of making the wrong choice, afraid of losing (the illusion of) job security, afraid I’d fail or make a fool of myself. I let those pesky voices in my head whisper so loudly, I almost changed my mind.
The day before I quit my job to go full-time with my passion, my daughter looked up at me and told me she loved me. Years of missed moments flashed in front of my eyes, and I realized that leaving my job to chase a dream that would give me more time with her was worth every risk that came with it. Do you know what happened? I grew. I thrived. I got to spend more time with my daughter, and in turn she got to watch me work hard and love my job.
So, what are you waiting for? The fear won’t go away, but it can’t steer the ship if you don’t let it. Feel it. Acknowledge it. Then do it scared. You might surprise yourself—and inspire others along the way. And hey, even if you belly-flop into the deep end, at least you made a splash.
xoxo Kate 🦄✨
