Brandi’s dress pants to the cleaners. Check. Confirm Friday morning’s TV interview. Check. Confirm set up time with Womanspace. Check. Pick up flowers. Pick up food and beverages. Run a vacuum. Communicate with book bloggers who are reviewing my book. Check. Check. Re-check.

This is what the space in my head feels like this week. It’s a running, spinning to do list. If it were written down on paper, there might be enough to supply a ticker tape parade in New York City. Why am I in this crazy kind of head space? Because Friday is my book release party. “What?” you say? A time for celebration, for finally giving birth to my baby after months (or years) of pregnancy should be filled with joyful anticipation. The funny thing is that it is filed with jubilation. I am over the moon with happiness.

But there is a piece of me that is anxious. My wise friend is sharing similar experiences as she awaits the birth of her “baby” too. I asked her, “What do you think we are so afraid of?” We agree, it is hard to be so vulnerable. To share so intimately of yourself and not know how it will be received. We agree that success scares us a little too. Neither of us us is totally comfortable with praise from others. I have been known to squirm a little in the face of a compliment. 

Why did I think this was worthy of a blog post? Because so often in our society, we plaster on the plastic smile and pretend we have it together, we present an image that we think will gain the approval of others, we reject and protect our authentic self. I’m writing this to say I don’t have this nailed down, but I’m willing to take a deep breath, or two or three. I’m willing to get outside my comfort zone. So, the next time you feel afraid and it seems like everyone else on the planet is sailing through life confidently, remember this post. We all have some fear. And we all have the power to be courageous in the face of it.