This picture came up the other day when I was feeling nostalgic and looking through old photos.

If you don’t know what I look like, that girl in the middle with the captain hat is me.

This was almost 7 years ago at a conference called “World Domination Summit” (if you’ve been before, say heyyy!)

During the conference, I had decided to sign up for the adrenaline junkie excursion, even though I am the FARTHEST thing from that. I can’t remember now why exactly that is what I chose, but knowing me, I probably signed up with the hope that all of my fears of heights, flying, suspension, etc. would somehow be lessened instantaneously and I would be the next Laura Croft, sporty and fearless.

I wanted so badly to be that person who was not afraid—someone who lived life full-out and fancy-free. The girl who was “down for whatever.”

However, I have spent much of my life as a big chicken when it comes to any sort of heights/adventure things, or really just experiences where I am not in complete control. I have missed out on so much because my fear, and that is one of my biggest regrets.

Turns out, even though I did the brave thing of at least lying to myself enough to get on the bus and make it out to the excursion, once I got out there, fear still won and completely consumed my body.

I can’t believe I even got up on the platform. I was paralyzed, completely mentally shut down, numb. I couldn’t think straight. I was petrified. PETRIFIED. This wasn’t even a super high zip-line, but you would have thought I was sitting in the electric chair the way I was screaming and carrying on.

I was on that platform contemplating my next move for easily 30 minutes (I am not joking,) letting others go ahead of me as I went back and forth with what to do.

At one point I had the entire bus of people involved in my bullshit—easily 70-80 people all invested in whether I was going to step off of a 30 foot platform and let myself glide through the air by means of perfectly secure equipment.

Thankfully, this World Domination Summit (or WDS for short,) attracts a lot of extremely supportive and amazing people. I had people on the platform encouraging me. I had people on the ground cheering. I had people saying “I will be waiting at the end for you!”

I don’t exactly remember what got me to finally let go, but eventually and with a fight—I did.

I screamed my lungs out the entire what was probably 30 seconds, tears in my eyes. But I did it. And just like they had promised, I had a crowd of people waiting for me at the end.

As I reflect back on this day, what I realize is this:

For the most part, our internal perspective of something that we are afraid of is always a million times worse than the reality of it and the way others are perceiving it. For example, the best thing I ever heard for flight anxiety is “no one is afraid for you to fly. Everyone knows you will make it there safely.”

It was the same thing in this situation, and about 95% of any other scenario you may find yourself in where you are feeling fear.

The guide at the top with me had done this 1,000’s of times and knew I was safe. He was not worried. My fellow conference-goers who signed up for this excursion with excitement were not worried for me. Just because you are feeling something so intensely doesn’t mean you can’t get through it. Being scared doesn’t mean something is wrong or actually dangerous.

A few things to keep in mind next time you get into your own version of my zip line situation:

1) Don't be afraid to let people help you along the way. Truly great people will celebrate every single step with you and encourage you forward with love. Trust that the people around you want the best for you, and would lead you away from any danger if it was present.

2) Take things step by step. Change is not a point A to point B thing. There are a ton of tiny little tweaks along the way that should all be recognized--if you are moving forward, you are making progress! My sister mentioned that I wouldn't have even gone to this excursion a few years back. She's right--and I need to remember the fact that I even showed up was a huge point of progress for me.

3) Feel the fear and do it anyways. Just because you may not feel 100% equipped, confident or assured doesn't mean you shouldn't still take action. Confidence is not a requirement for progress in your life, it's a result.

So next time your fear feels so big, so paralyzing, so completely life-threatening and real, remember that you can keep feeling it all, and allow the support around you to carry you through to the finish line. Most of the time, you really don’t have much of a chance of anything that bad happening. And, best of all, you may even have people looking at you like this when you get there. I’ll tell you, it’s worth it.

Would I zip line again? Absolutely. Would I still be hesitant as hell and probably go up and down the stairs a million times and hesitate at every platform. Absolutely. But I do believe it would feel a little easier the next time I do it, and that’s why I wanna keep doing these things. Because action creates confidence, and confidence feels good.

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Lots of love your way today and always,

Sarah