Big Visions Can Illicit Fear - Is That Fear Serving or Sabotaging You?

This morning, I had the privilege of doing a life fulfillment and radical awareness coaching workshop with a group of extraordinary women at the start of their 12-week program, led by Michele Risa and Nezha Alaoui , of WOMEN CHOICE. WOMEN CHOICE is a global organization committed to advancing women's empowerment, gender equity, and social sustainability in the workplace. Surrounded by ambitious and visionary women, I witnessed firsthand how big visions can evoke both inspiration and fear.

The Fear Behind Big Visions

One participant, shared her overwhelm and fear associated with her big vision. She spoke candidly about the heavy emotional weight she carried—the fear that she might not achieve her dream within her lifetime, and that could mean she didn't fulfill her purpose. This courageous admission opened the door for a transformative discussion about the dual nature of fear.

Serving Fear vs. Sabotaging Fear

We explored the aspects of fear that can serve us. Fear can be a powerful motivator, driving us to work harder, to remain vigilant about the passage of time, and to recognize that achieving big dreams often requires help from others. This awareness can fuel our determination and keep us focused on our goals. Fear has important messages, it's our job to listen and take what's useful.

However, we need to be cautious of the layers of fear that sabotage us. These are the fears rooted in self-limiting beliefs—the idea that we are not good enough if we don't reach our big dreams. This kind of fear creates a narrative that the subconscious mind clings to, ultimately keeping us from reaching too high in an attempt to protect us from potential disappointment.

It was a beautiful moment in our workshop when I asked this highly conscious and connected woman, "What does it say about you if you don't achieve this?" In that question, I could literally see the energy transfer as she answered. With a gentle smile and shoulders that came back into the same open position that she had when she first described her beautiful vision to the group, she answered, "It doesn't say anything about me. It means I tried!"

I offered this slight adjustment: "Exactly, it doesn't say anything negative about you. But I think it actually says a whole lot about who you are, about what you care about, about your courage to try even though there was no guarantee in the result."

Fueling Your Dreams

To illustrate this, we used fuel as an analogy. Imagine trying to power your dreams with old, dirty, compromised gas from the back of the shed. This is akin to the fears of inadequacy that hold us back. Don't use dirty gas, you won't go far, and the ride will be cloudy with breath-sucking clouds of dirty smoke.

But imagine if you replaced the old crappy gas, with rocket fuel! Rocket fuel comes from the emotions and beliefs you feel when you imagine your vision coming to life. When you push past the fear, and see your future impact. See the faces of the people you could make a difference for, and imagine them experiencing the positive impact that you see as possible. Your rocket fuel remains uncompromised when you know, right down to the deepest part of you, that you are already enough.

When our work is fueled by the energy of service and love for ourselves and others, we operate with the best energy on the planet.

Embracing the Journey and Legacy

To the big dreamers, it may be helpful to remember that many of the biggest dreams do not get fully realized within one’s lifetime. This doesn’t mean we have failed; it means our vision is so grand that it extends beyond ourselves. This is a life of honor. Instead of reaching the end and feeling "not far enough," we can look back with pride and say, "Wow, look what I/we started. It's up to them now." This shift in perspective allows us to see our efforts as the beginning of a legacy, one that others will continue.

To Close

To the remarkable women in the WOMEN CHOICE ImpactHER program, I express my deepest gratitude for allowing me to be part of your journey. Remember, the journey of your dreams is as important as the destination. Be kind to yourself, and let the energy of service and love propel you forward.

Embrace your big visions, let fear serve you as a motivator, and discard the fears that sabotage your potential. Your legacy is not just in what you achieve but in the impact you make and the path you pave for others.

Much gratitude and respect,

Maurice Thibodeau

Written on: June 03, 2024

Maurice Thibodeau is a Master Hypnotherapist and Transformational Coach on a mission to impact 1 million lives by gently guiding amazing people back to living their purpose. Learn more and follow Maurice and his body of work here: www.illuminationexperiences.com

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