We learn early to run from things that are “scary.” And for good reason. But somewhere in there, we start to equate scary with bad.

But is that always true?

Many of the best things I’ve ever done came because I forced myself to embrace the scary.

Getting married, delivering a baby, starting a business… Each of these is incredibly scary and they are also hallmarks of a truly rich and blessed life. And none of them happen without embracing scary.

Consider the best things that have ever happened to you. Now think back just a little before it actually happened. There’s a good chance you were scared out of your mind!

I know I can think of a few! Here are some real-life personal scared to death examples…

Delivering my first baby.

Everything seemed happy go lucky with my cute belly and minimal morning sickness. I was going to get to be a mother and I couldn’t wait to meet my baby girl. That is until the week before when it hit me — thinking about how she was going to make her arrival. (I must have skipped out on that health class).  😉

I got scared, and not just a little scared. My OBGYN was predicting that she was going to be big, “anywhere from 8.5 to 11.5 pounds” she said with a smile. I was not smiling! I suddenly could not wrap my head around this bowling ball baby. I was terrified, but luckily there was no going back and thank goodness because that 9.2 pound little moose may not have ever made her arrival if I’d had a choice. Turns out, she was so worth it that I did it 2 more times.

On the other side of scary, amazing was waiting for me.

Launching The Thriving Photographer™.  I knew with everything in me that I could help photographers! I saw all of these women feeling defeated and overwhelmed as they spent every extra second they had struggling to build a business that worked and yet not getting any closer.

I had already done what they were trying to do. I had built an amazing business on minimum hours and I knew the process could be duplicated. But I was scared! All kinds of ugly thoughts crashed into my brain… “Why would anyone want to listen to me?” “Who was I to think I should be listened to?” It took over a year to develop, design, and build The Thriving Photographer and I was terrified it would be a bust. But I persisted despite immense fear.

On the other side of scary, I found purpose.

Announcing my first Mastermind Thrive Retreat. Well, it turned out that Thrive did work! I found myself with an amazing tribe of Thriving Photographers and I wanted to create an opportunity to meet them and offer even deeper level experiences for building their dream lives.

The night before registration was going to open, I couldn’t sleep. I was so scared that I was going to have to retract everything, say “never-mind” and crawl back in bed because I didn’t sell a single spot.

The email went out at 9am PT and then my phone started lighting up as payment after payment popped up through PayPal. I ended up hosting over 8 of those Thrive Mastermind Retreats, even taking it international.

On the other side of scary, I found my biggest daydream had become my reality.

There are so many more, like launching Growth Getters to help ALL womenprenuers do what I’d done with Thrive. Taking my family and traveling the world for a year. Even saying no to amazing opportunities for bigger ones…

So what’s waiting for you on the other side of scary?

The best things you’ll ever do are on the other side of scary. It’s time to get scared… and do it anyway.