Fear: the thing that stops us from pursuing dreams, the thing that holds us back from reaching our full potential, the thing that fights to the front of our thoughts in all kinds of situation… it sucks!

How many times have you had a great idea, an idea that could make a huge difference for someone/something, but you’re scared of people’s reactions or the risks that it involves… so you just hide it away or try to forget that you ever even imagined it? I’ve done it so, so many times because “the usual” is so much safer, but what if we all started speaking up? What if we dared to take our seat at the table and at least pitch those solution, ideas or dreams that we think could make a difference?

I’m one of those people who believes that things happen for a reason… we may not ever know or understand what that reason is… and we may suffer through those times of wondering “why?” Why didn’t I get that job? Why did this happen to me? Why do I have to struggle with this when no one else seems to? Why [fill in the the blank]?

But, it’s all part of our journey. It’s part of finding our purpose. And believe me, I know that can be the hardest thing to believe and accept, but if we didn’t go through the valleys, how we would we be able to truly appreciate the views from the hilltops?

God tells us repeatedly to give our worries and fears over to Him, and He’ll take care of the rest…

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control…”

– 2 Timothy 1:7

“You do not realize what I am doing, but later you will understand…”

– John 13:7

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself…”

– Matthew 6:34

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A favorite quote of mine is from Henry Matisse, and he says “Creativity takes courage…” And I couldn’t agree more! It’s scary to put yourself out there whether it’s a new idea at work, a personal blog post, a post/story on Social Media, a talk with your friend about your hopes/dreams… It can be hard for us to do… but what if Thomas Edison stopped trying to make a light bulb after the first failure? What if Martin Luther King decided his dream wasn’t worth sharing? What if Leonardo da Vinci or Michaelangelo or Van Goh or Picasso gave up their art because it was “different?”

Our world exists because of creativity… because of the people who think outside the box… because of the innovators, the trend-setters, THE CREATIVES!

So, if you’re in this category, share your talents, share your ideas. You have them for a reason, and it’s your responsibility to make the most of them… And if you don’t view yourself as a creative, then find ways to support those who are! Tell that friend who has their own business that they’re doing a good job. Tell that family member who’s writing a book that you can’t wait to read it when they’re finished. Tell that girl from high school who’s pursuing a music career that you admire her guts and can’t wait to download that new song of hers!

But whatever “category” you’re in, work on losing your fear of being wrong or messing up or just flat-out failing because you CAN do whatever you set your mind to, and even in the failures, there is always growth and learning.

It took Edison 10,000 tries to make the light-bulb, and at the end he said “I didn’t fail. I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

So, let’s promise to keep being creative and to keep thinking outside the box! Eventually the “light” will come on.

Happy Monday!