Last Thursday a dream came true for me. I filmed my first training series for melanietoner.com with a professional photographer.
I nervously prepared for 3 weeks. What to wear. What to say. I had been dreaming about this day for a long time. It was finally here, and I didn’t want to mess up. What you may not know is I dream of flooding melanietoner.com with valuable, resourceful, inspiring videos that will empower women to live meaningful, authentic lives.
I’m a recovering perfectionist. Therefore, while I could shoot these videos with my iPhone for free as I have done in the past. I had the desire to take my videos to the next level. They needed to be more professional. But I didn’t have the resources or the time to learn how.
That’s when a miracle happened. I won a filming package from a photographer I adore. She gets me, and I knew shooting with her would be effortless and stress-free.
As the day approached, I felt less and less prepared. A little voice inside my head kept telling me to call and cancel – that I could just reschedule for later in the year. But I chose to move forward even in the face of fear.
Fear that I wasn’t ready. Fear that I wouldn’t have anything of value to share. Fear that I would be ordinary. Fear that my work would fall flat. Fear that I wouldn’t be inspiring. Fear that I couldn’t do it.
And the biggest fear was that my belly bump would make me look fat not pregnant. Yes, I’m pregnant. Our little bambino is due to arrive in late September. While I’m excited and thrilled – I also didn’t want to look pregnant in these videos. I sucked in my baby bump all day, and the moment we said, “That’s a wrap,” the baby stretched out, got comfy, and the watermelon-size bump appeared.
I chose to show up that day. To show up for my dream. To show up for you, my readers. To show up for the women who will be inspired by the videos we created. I chose to stand in fear, which was uncomfortable.
Because even if I fail – I’ll be able to say that I tried. I had a blast.
I’m so proud of the work we created that day. I’m counting down the days until I’ll be able to see the edited work.
Have you allowed fear to keep you from moving forward? Has fear stopped you from living your dream or taking a risk?
Next time fear pops up for you ask yourself…
Is it more uncomfortable to sit in the fear of the unknown or to face fear and enjoy the outcome?
Would you rather live to tell the experience or would you rather wonder what might have happened if you tried?
You decide. I did, and it was worth it.
Be well,
