Do something that scares you….

Yas Grigaliunas
Sep 9, 2018 · 4 min read

[A small group of us in Peak Persona recently started a writing challenge, where we have each committed to writing a very small amount every single day for the month of September. What started on paper in a journal, has now morphed into this…..me sharing my writing again. I’m doing this for me, to detach myself from a fear I let hold me back from being all that I am. I invite you to share the journey.]

Most people think I’m brave. Generally I am….BUT, believe it or not it doesn’t always come naturally. I work hard to push myself out of my comfort zone most days.

I recently read an article shared by one of the most inspiring and admired humans I’ve ever known Eleanor Carey. If you don’t know Eleanor, you’re missing out! Do yourself a favour and follow her here on Medium. I’ll wait here while you add her!!!

What Eleanor has done (and she wouldn’t even know it), is make me realise how important it is to lean into discomfort, even when it forking scares you.

What am I scared of?

Writing!! Yet I love to do it.

I write like I talk, there’s no structure, no plan, no real understanding of whether it’s ‘good enough’ to publish or share, so I usually think through the whole piece, then end up not actually doing anything. I imagine it in my mind, write it in my head and have no reference to revisit and reflect in the future. No writing, no reflection, no sharing!

As I lean into the fear…here I am, having just finished a 5km parkrun in the USA, not just writing, but typing words without a filter, without procrastinating and without fear. OK…that’s a lie, there is fear, but I’m doing it anyway!

parkrun at Crissy Field San Francisco. L-R: Yas, Jules, Ryan and Mel aka team ‘World’s Biggest Flood Mapp’

What fear? Fear of judgement! Fear of isolation! Fear that someone like me, who tends to scare most people a little anyway, will now scare even more people, with risk of being left without the deep and meaningful human connections (and love) I need to thrive. I’m self diminishing and that’s not OK! Why?

I got hurt! Hurt badly! So I stopped writing!

It was 4 years ago!! It’s only now after reading Eleanor’s “The Key To Unlocking Your Potential” article, that I realise how it has stopped me being who I am.

I won’t go into it now, as it’s many layers deep, but what I can tell you is this…. I went from writing daily (yep, every single day), sharing views of a unique journey I was on. I started writing initially to help my sister. It expanded slowly and began to help other women (and men) going through a similar journey. Why did I stop writing? I’m ashamed to say that it was something someone else did (and said) that crushed me!! I know….me!! I’m strong, why did this happen?

The crushing was soul destroying. I let it rattle me, I let it silence me, I let it diminish me and I’m not proud of it one little bit.

Today, inspired by Eleanor Carey, who just completed the most amazing endurance adventure, I am writing and sharing again.

My Love Language is Quality Time! I love people, I love to help, I love to give and I’m quite addicted to striving and driving to achieve and to help others. It’s what gets me leaping out of bed every day. I want to make a difference in whatever it is that I do. I want to make an impact!!

Writing helps me. Writing and sharing helps others too.

I’m not for everyone and that’s OK. I might just repeat that one more time so I can be sure that I listened. I’m not for everyone and that’s OK.

Today, I’m leaning into the discomfort, listening (thank you Eleanor) and letting go of fear. I will share and sometimes I may (OK, likely I will) overshare, that’s who I am. #noapologies

Final Confession: Before pressing ‘Publish’ on this article, I read Aaron Birkby’s latest article “WTAF are you waiting for!”. It’s like Aaron knew that I needed a little nudge. Thanks Aaron

Yas Grigaliunas

Written by

CEO & Co-founder at World’s Biggest Garage Sale. Entrepreneur of Impact. Specialist Generalist. Early bird & Night Owl. Why? To make a difference!! #noplanetb

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