The end of the year & losing the fear

2023, the year of the Brave.

Photo by Benjamin Wedemeyer on Unsplash

Prepared to face and endure pain, to show courage.

The previous sentence is the definition of Brave in the dictionary.

A few weeks ago, a guy approached me and told me he enjoyed my newsletter and asked if I would include one of his writings in one of my newsletters.

These were the actions to me of bravery. I could have said NO, made some other excuse, or even worse, said yes without any intention of doing it, but it would have made that person feel good.

I reminded them again to send them to me, as I had always intended to use his writings in my following email around the subject of bravery and fear.

(Hence the delay in the usual weekly post, but sadly I have not received them to include in this one)

Is this delay based on fear? Or is that inner critic stopping them from sending it? Whatever the reason, it is not mine to question. The fact they came up and asked me in the first place was brave in itself, and I commend that.

So on reflection, how brave were you this holiday season?

Or did fear put a hold on certain things in our lives?

And in what areas are we intending to be braver going into the new year?

The fear of starting that new training regime, cutting out all the wrong foods, or perhaps alcohol and cigarettes that all have high intentions come December 31st.

Saying No to nights out over the "silly season" and being able to stop using "it is Christmas" as an excuse.

That conversation with loved ones about the expectations of exchanging gifts with one another?

Or releasing that fear that people will only appreciate us because of the gifts you get them?

Being brave to share your true feelings for someone losing the fear that they are just one-sided?

You are risking it all rather than it eating you up inside.

Making goals and hopes for the new year and being prepared to stick to them is brave. Fear is when we put them out there for others to see; if we fail or don't achieve them, it adds unwanted pressure onto ourselves.

Personal Goals are ours, and ours alone, once achieved, give us a sense of real achievement.

And a goal may be as small as reducing our caffeine intake or increasing the water we have each day.

Being brave is taking back the power in a toxic relationship or implementing boundaries on certain friends, learning to say No without feelings of shame or guilt.

Getting out of our comfort zone is brave, and with it comes fear but trusting in the journey, the process that is the bravery we possess.

That gut feeling, learning to tune into it and go with it, will help reduce the fear inside.

With two more days left in 2022, I invite you to reflect on those magical moments of the last 363 days and think about all you would love to accomplish in the next.

Be brave and go for it.

Take that leap, and be free of all fear and judgment.

Please don't hesitate to ask for help when needed.

If someone says yes, could you follow it up and take them up?

If you get let down or disappointed by someone, learn from it and move on.

Understand it is more about them and their lack of awareness than anything to do with you.

It doesn't have to be January 1st to make these changes. They can happen anytime, so be patient and kind to yourself.

Remember, today will be better than yesterday, but we have the power to make tomorrow so much better than today.

And I would love to wish you all the happiest of 2023.

As always, thanks for reading,

Marcus

2022 was named 202YOU. Let's move into the new year with a feeling lacking fear… make it 202FREE.