All of your life you have wanted to... Whenever you think about it, it makes your heart soar. You can imagine ‘YOU’ right in the midst of the action of doing it. All of your senses come alive and it feels like home. In reality though, the full picture of being successful at it, riddles you with fear. Are you more comfortable with the struggle rather than the responsibilities that come with success? Fill in the blank and be honest with ‘YOU’ about what is holding you back from pursuing your dream.

Of course, ‘YOU’ are holding ‘YOU’ back, but why? Say it out loud. Write it down. Draw a picture. However you need to face it, face it. Recognize the fear and prepare to move forward. What is the responsibility you fear most? It does not matter if anyone else thinks it makes sense, it is your fear. You must recognize it in order to overcome it.

Once you recognize the fear, ask yourself:
“What is the worst case scenario?” “Can I live with that?”
If the ‘worst-case scenario’ were happening to someone else, what would you tell them to do?
Is there any way to avoid the ‘worst-case scenario’?
Better yet, what is the opposite of the ‘worst-case scenario’? Could you handle that?
What tools would you need in order to manage your success?

Now that you have had this discussion with YOU, have this discussion with someone else. Talk to a loved one or a personal coach about your fear of success. Join or create a group and get the conversation going. You get two hours to talk it out.

Now, write down or speak aloud the goal. Visualize what it looks like in a ‘best-case scenario’. Jump into it like a dream. Let your heart soar.

Finally, schedule a meeting with your group or coach every month to discuss your progress. If it is a group, everyone should have a goal they are pursuing. Make an agreement to speak in positive terms at every meeting. Indulge in faith over fear at each meeting by discussing how you are growing into this opportunity, your big dream. Hold yourself accountable by setting a goal you will accomplish before the next meeting.

Before you know it, you and your entire group could be loving life and living the dream.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?”

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -Marianne Williamson