Do it afraid. Do it now.

We halt our progress, because we choose to lean into the fear, and not the pain that it takes to go through the fire or the cold. The beautiful thing is we can always make a different choice.

I recently spoke with a nurse who worked in spinal surgery, and she shared that she learned a lot from people's recovery.

She had a patient who was fully paralyzed up to the neck. He could only move his lips, yet he was a multimillionaire. He created many assistive devices to help others who had lost mobility like him. On the flip side, someone who had lost mobility in their leg and had more mobility than the paraplegic patient, was so depressed and would complain much more that it seemed as though he had much less!

Be honest with yourself. Have you...

• become too attached to a negative event in your life? Have you chosen to fixate on the failure instead of choosing to take courageous action and build your future?
• worked hard, and thought "I've made it!" I have done enough! I am comfortable.
• focused your attention more on the fear of losing, instead of what you will win!
• thought what if it does not work, instead of what if it does!

Acting from the what if it does work, is powerful! You can choose to feel the pain and do it anyway! The fear can be the signal you need to accelerate the actions forward, not to put a brake.

After we sold our first investment property, I thought I had made it! "I was a small thinker back then." I got too comfortable. I made more in one transaction than I had made as a banker at CHASE. I don't think like that anymore. I love challenges, and get scared of getting too comfortable.

At any time, you can choose to play to win! You and I are already big winners! You won the human lottery of being alive, and truly if you can dream it and believe it, you can achieve anything! There is nothing impossible!

Decide and commit to leaving the old behind, and create the new!

The old you may embrace the fear, and not want pain, but the new you is courageous, bold, and takes quick decisions while creating massive action, volume, and impact.

It all starts with the small actions taken daily, like going for a run when you don't feel like it, but you know that you want to run a marathon or that 5k Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago.

The choices you make now will determine tomorrow!

When you're about to die, hopefully a long time from now, may you leave happy because you gave it all! You tapped into the maximum version of you, unlike many of the dying who regret what they didn't do!

A choice for comfort is subtle. Pay close attention to your beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

This choice happens when you choose to:

• repeat cycles, not acknowledging unhealed trauma.
• It happens when you rest your worth in how others love you, versus how much you love yourself.
• You choose comfort over courage when you close your heart. You decide not to do the work and you miss out on love by not being vulnerable. You miss on a great partner.
• Comfort can happen with our money decisions. You pass up on an investment. You skip doing your budget. You pass on the business opportunity, or career opportunity because you are too scared to do anything that you've never done. You are playing not to lose!?The irony is that failing to take action, creates big losses.
• You choose comfort when you stay in relationships that don't serve you any longer. You settle. You think of the time you've invested vs. the time that is ahead of you to build something extraordinary, with a partner who is more aligned with your values, and morals, and whose character you respect.

"You have to play to win, not to lose." - Arash Vassoughi, Voss Coaching

I've done things inside my comfort zone, but those have never defined any significant expansion in my life.

In college, I was very involved with the Archdiocese of Chicago. I was involved in the Youth Ministry and represented the Northwest Suburbs in Cook County, with its Hispanic Young Adult Ministry. In my involvement, I would also travel as a representative to national events. I'm grateful to Jorge Rivera a great friend and mentor of mine.

There was a national event they were organizing for attendees all over the US, California, Texas, New York, and more. It was to be hosted at the beautiful Notre Dame University. I was voted to co-organize this event, amongst all the representatives. I was the youngest, and I was going to work directly with the top event organizer at Notre Dame University.

I was excited about the opportunity, but I let fear and comfort overhaul my expansion. At home, there was conflict and I thought I would help my family by staying home. It was a huge mistake! By holding myself back, I halted my growth and expansion, in that season of my life.

I've realized over the years that shrinking to my surroundings or the dreams of others does not contribute to my purpose, and it does not contribute to the expansion of those I love!

In thinking about this year, I knew that I wanted to do it differently! I wanted to rise above fear and intentionally lean into it!

As a result, the words guiding my year, my days and my hours in 2025 are Enthusiastic Courage.?

These words exemplify what the top leaders I admire live by. This year,?I went Ice Climbing for the first time.

I decided to go Ice Climbing to Winona Ice Fest without climbing experience

How did I end up at Winona Ice Fest without any climbing experience?

I dared to go on my first hiking adventure with Tortugas Hiking Club. There I met Juan aka Juanito, who was sharing with me his passion for climbing. I told him I had been curious to try it. I've been following Bob Clark's adventure posts where he shares on his climbing adventures, even on the ones where he has overcome some major injuries, and I knew I wanted to start hiking and climbing.

Juan shared his excitement for the ice climbing, and sold me that someone without experience could do this! I said I'm in!

Do it afraid.

No climbing experience, but 100% courage and the belief that I could do it despite the fear, propelled me forward. I signed up and went with a group of 15 with Escala Chicago. Before signing up, I hadn't gone climbing. I did go climbing for the first time to Movement in Lincoln Park, and after 2 attempts, I finally made it all the way to the top. Grateful to Ariel, Juan's cousin who belayed me up. It's precisely this attitude that took me to Winona's Ice Fest in January.

As a result I met Juan Carlos, who drove us there and made a close to 5-hour trip to 4. He’s been the swiftest driver.?Juan Carlos, is a lobbyist passionate about environmental work and elevating policies that protect and enhance life for Latinos, and those drives to Springfield, IL in his prior job definitely have improved his driving.

Courage can take you there, but commitment will see you through.

You can't always anticipate what hurdles that will come up when you lean in, but if you commit to doing it, you will succeed! You will make progress!

In day 2, I saw someone in our group climb. He was almost made it the top, and we encouraged him to finish, but he said, "No!"

We’re like, “why? You’re so close!”

He screams and turns around, “Blood!” We could see his mouth filled with blood. The ice had fallen and had hit his lip.

There is a helmet you wear for protection on the climb, and fortunately, out of the group of 15, there were no other incidents, instead countless victories from many doing ice climbing for the first time!

After he finished someone on our team jokingly said, "watch out for the blood when you get up there!" I let that statement build fear in me. I still went up to climb, but as I looked at the wall with hollowed ice at parts I hit a mental block. I mentally regrouped and then gave it a go again on the other wall. I was committed to making progress and moving higher up the wall!

Be Willing to Do It Alone.

When you are expanding to a new level, and a new version of you, likely, many of your current friends, family, or colleagues will not join you! That is why you must be willing to go at it alone.?

I’ve dared to try new experiences this year alone and even support new causes.! No one that I knew went ice climbing this year, but I made new friends! The people that I asked to go to the First Look Charity event at the Auto Show were committed to other events or did not want to go, so I went alone. I loved it because I made some cool connections and rode some awesome new cars, including the Jeep Gladiator and Ford Bronco! They are both great vehicles for the outdoors!

I’ve been learning to swim, also alone. I am not afraid of the lonely path.

Do it afraid. The unknown will never let you down.?

You will be supported and find that by doing things afraid, you’ll discover and create a new tribe!

What do you want, that you are afraid to do?

What are you afraid to do, may be precisely what you're being called to take action on! Don’t let comfort hold you back, because at any opportunity you can choose to do it afraid. I’d love to hear from you!

You can reach me at [email protected] for any questions, and/or speaking opportunities. You can also sign up for my bi-monthly Your Dreams Your Money newsletter, with things I only share on email here.

I am the CEO of Tanya Christina Properties, affiliated with Realty of America, and I have a passion for real estate and elevating others to achieve their dreams and grow their wealth! Making more money is fun, and giving it away to impact others is even more!?

I’d love to hear about your story! What have you been afraid to do, and/or what are you committed to do afraid of this year?

Comment below.?