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Health & Fitness

Feel The Fear But Do It Anyway!

I just came back from a great week in San Francisco. What an amazing, vibrant city! My purpose for the trip was to attend a 3-day conference called, The Big Shift Experience. I went to learn how to market my business more effectively so that I can make a bigger impact on the health of people touched by cancer around the world. But I left with so much more!

Sharing the room with 450 entrepreneurial change-makers who all have a deep desire to make the world a better place was incredible!  The basic theme of the weekend was to let down our “shields” (or walls) that we use to protect ourselves from feeling pain, rejection or criticism, so that we can step out in a bigger way and truly have the life and business we desire; in a nutshell, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable.

On the first day we were asked to get into groups and share something about ourselves that we may never have said out loud to anyone before.  Talk about feeling vulnerable! But by allowing ourselves to be in this space we were able to be our authentic selves, which I must say felt great in a room of complete strangers!  The big thing I got out of it was that no matter how we  “appear” to be on the outside, we are all really the same; with similar fears and insecurities that often keep us stuck or prevent us from reaching our full potential.

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As a cancer survivor and mentor to cancer survivors, I have a pretty good understanding of what it feels like to be vulnerable. I know that when our health is in jeopardy we may feel helpless, powerless or like our bodies have failed us in some way.  When I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 29, I was REALLY scared, but I used being afraid as fuel to lead a healthier life.  I believe if we can use our fear or vulnerability as a catalyst to change our lives for the better than it really doesn’t have to seem so scary.

This reminds me of the great talk we heard over the weekend from Dr. Shaun Stephenson, therapist, self-help author and motivational speaker who was born with osteogenesis imperfecto or “brittle-bone disease”.  I definitely recommend checking out his You Tube videos, as he was one of the best speakers I have ever heard!

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The main focus of his talk was on the importance of having a crystal clear vision of where you want to go and pushing through the obstacles that are sure to get in your way.

Here are just some of his nuggets:

  • Keep moving forward-even when it’s scary, even when you’re petrified, even when your sad
  • The thing you are most scared to say is the something you have to say
  • Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional
  • When given another day you have more to do

My hope is that you will take one of these nuggets and move forward in your life, no matter what obstacles you encounter along the way. In other words, feel the fear and do it anyway, whether it’s taking control of your health, standing up for what you believe in, or making a change that you’ve been really wanting to make.

I know that when I push through my fears and allow myself to be truly vulnerable, I not only grow exponentially, but also am able to touch people’s lives in ways that I could never have imagined!

Looking for someone to take the confusion out of what it takes to remain healthy, vibrant and cancer-free? Please visit my website at www.revivewellness.com for more information.

Hayley Dubin, Certified Nutrition and Wellness Coach, is the founder of reVIVE wellness.  She is a mentor and health coach to cancer survivors as well as individuals with a strong family history of cancer.  She teaches her clients how to create a cancer resistant body so they can get back to living the life of their dreams.  

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