A long time ago when I was in my early twenties, I read a book by Dr. Susan Jeffers. ?One of the things she said that stayed with me was, “feel the fear and do it anyways.” ?She’s an expert on anxiety and panic disorders and one of my first resources for resolving my own panic problem.That statement has become a mantra and a way of life for me. ?I decided then and there that no matter how scared I was, that I would do it anyway ~ no matter what “it” was.

That included taking horseback riding lessons because I was petrified of horses. ?I rode every week for two years and was jumping before I gave it up to move on to something else.

Planes. ?That one word was enough to bring me to my knees. ?I didn’t fly until 1996. ?I was 33 when ?I applied for a job that required 20 percent travel. ?I was determined to see places that I couldn’t get to without boarding a plane. ? I have since flown to over 16 states, many of them more than once, and six different countries.

Public speaking. ?I know you can relate to this one. ?Whenever anyone asks me to speak, I say yes. ?Am I afraid? Most definitely. ?But I ask myself, what’s my motivation? ?Why would I put myself in such an excruciatingly uncomfortable place? ?The answer is so much bigger than the fear of speaking publicly. ?I want everyone to know about holistic, natural health therapies.

It changed my life and helped me overcome so many different issues ~ from the mundane (poison ivy, splinters, bruises, back pain) to debilitating (anxiety, panic attacks, migraines, adrenal fatigue, hormonal issues). ?If I can help just one person, then it’s worth every second I’m standing in front of a crowd. ?And to be perfectly honest, the anxiety fades quickly as I get into my groove and tell others how they can learn to help themselves.

I’ve had people tell me they think I’m brave. ?I’m really not. ?I’ve got the same amount of irrational fears as everyone else. ?I just choose not to let them get in the way of me living my life.