Hiya Pinkies, and Happy Mojo Monday! Do you let fear paralyze you? Do your fears prevent you from following your dreams and living the authentic life you know you’re meant to live? Do you fear:

• Not being loved
• Failure
• Disease
• Financial insecurity
• Loneliness
• Dying
• The unknown
• Conflict
• Rejection

If you do, you’re SO not alone, Pinkies. We have all stood on the precipice, considering taking a pleap (Pink leap of faith), only to have our growth stunted by fear. Right now, I’m struggling with a fear that might surprise you. I’ve recently realized that I fear success. Sounds silly, eh? After all, I’m living my dream, owning my Pink, and celebrating the journey on the lavender-scented river. Why would I fear success? I don’t know. I just launched Owning Pink 4 1/2 months ago and it’s growing like wildfire. After three years of trying to get a book published, I have two slated for publication within a month of each other, and my private practice is growing every week. What if everything takes off all at once? What if my book becomes a bestseller and Oprah invites me on her show? What if I get overwhelmed and freaked out and screw it all up- flub up on national television? What if I get famous and everybody wants a piece of me? What if I can’t ever go out without public scrutiny? What if my peaceful quiet life gets turned upside down, and my life no longer resembles what I set out to achieve? What if I can’t handle the attention?

Why do I fear success? I have to get to the root of it. I spent this weekend with Britain’s Next Top Coach finalist and Mojo Mentor Christian Pankhurst of Embracing Change. As we gazed at the Golden Gate bridge, Christian coached me about this issue I have related to how I freeze when I’m the center of attention. I can do it here, Pinkies. I tell you my truth from the comfort of my home office on my computer. But when people who admire me make me the focus of their energy and attention, I wig out and get all squirrely. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the admiration, and of course it’s validating to be loved and accepted for the work I do in the world. I just have trouble receiving all that love sometimes. I feel unworthy, shy, embarrassed… So I try to deflect the attention away from me and back at the other person. Which comes across looking awkward, at best, and arrogant, at worst.

One coach backed me into a corner and said, “Lissa, why do you insist on wearing a tin crown when you’re already wearing a real one?” I got all defensive at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized what she’s talking about. Even the mere mention of wearing a crown gives me the heeby jeebies. Who am I to wear a crown? I’m just this ordinary girl, living my life. But that’s what she means. Who am I not to wear a crown? And of course we all have real ones! I know that. I’m the first to honor the crown in someone else, so why I can’t I step into my own power?

I’m working on it. Christian will coach me more, I’m sure. Because I fully realize that my fear of success does nothing but hold me back. Clearly, the Universe has a plan for me. The signs from the Universe are overwhelmingly pointing towards the path I’m traveling. So why can’t I get out of my own way and OWN it? Throw my arms in the air, face to the sun, and BRING IT ON! I’ve overcome fearing not being loved, fearing failure, fearing the unknown. I’ve accepted that the Universe has a Master Plan and I must surrender to it. Doesn’t it follow that if the Universe plans for me to succeed, I should go with the flow? Should I just trust that nothing will happen that JABA (Jesus, Jehovah, Allah, Buddha, Athena, etc) and I can’t handle?

The answer is YES. Yes. Yes. I know it. But how?

Today’s Mojo Monday exercise

Drawing Our Fears

1. Make a list of all the things in life you fear.
2. Choose the fear that most paralyzes you.
3. Describe your fear in precise detail. What does your fear look like? Feel like? Smell like? What color is it? What does it sound like? What does your fears voice say?
4. Grab some magic markers and draw your fear. Let your creative juices personify your fear. Make it real.
5. Now invite your fear to write you a letter.

Here’s mine:

Dearest Lissa,

Why do you let me stop you? Don’t you see that I only keep you from owning your birthright? I know you think maybe I’m protecting you in some way, keeping you safe and helping you avoid change, but don’t you see that I merely stunt your growth? Don’t you realize that if you let me go, you will be able to step into your power with grace, dignity, and brilliance? Don’t you know that you sparkle and shine your light through every one of your cells? You don’t need me. I give you permission to release me. Own it, baby. Put on that golden crown and bask in the Pink light. I release you. You are free.

With love,

Fear of Success

Your turn, Pinkies! What do you fear? How is it holding you back? How can you allow your fear to guide you, rather than paralyze you? Tell us your stories, so we can all inspire each other….

Striving to be fearlessly Pink,

Lissa

PS. Pink Goddess Leslee Horner nominated us for the Shine The Light Contest, and we got enough votes to qualify for the judging, which happens today. It's a long shot, but I'm honored just to have been considered with so many other inspirational businesses. So many thanks to those of you who voted for us! xoxo