Not always a trailblazer

I have to be perfectly honest with you. A lot of the times, my excuse for not diving fully into chasing my dream of starting a business as a Health and Life Coach, writing a blog, getting more active on social media, etc. isn’t just because it’s new and outside of my comfort zone, but because there are already people out there who have done it, are doing it, and are doing it REALLY well. I start comparing myself to them and think “there’s no way I could do that as well as her so why even bother trying?” Yikes! Poor, pitiful me. What a sad way to think, and what’s sadder is how often I find myself thinking this way. Please know, this is NOT a cry for validation or pats on the back or “you can do it!”s. This is my public acknowledgement of how these kinds of thoughts don’t serve anyone and I know that I can’t be the only one to have them, so I’m hoping to encourage you, too.

Last night, my new best friend, Rachel Hollis, was in my bed and piercing my soul with this reminder. Okay, she wasn’t physically or literally in my bed (I’m not a total creep and did not kidnap her, even though I think I only live about 30 miles north of her so it could be possible), but I was reading her new book, “Girl, Stop Apologizing.” By the way, we ALL need to read it. I am always amazed at God’s timing in providing some sort of message that I need to hear when I am struggling with something. This time, He spoke through Rachel Hollis’ voice at midnight on a Saturday (because I’m 27 so what else would I be doing on a Saturday night but reading in bed?) about being afraid to chase a dream or try something because it’s already been chased, caught, and hung on display by someone else. It was so powerful for me that I want to echo her.

As a climber, hiker, and outdoor adventure enthusiast, it finally clicked for me when Rachel started using a mountain climbing analogy- she was speaking my language! Her exact words were: “The reality is that every new mountain you attempt to scale will likely have been traversed by someone before you.” (p. 63). WhaBam! Preach!! This is SO true. Every route I have taken, mountain I have climbed, trail I have walked has been paved or kicked in by someone (if not many people), and I have no problem with it when it comes to climbing a mountain. In fact, I love knowing that a rope is secure, a handhold is just big enough to support my weight, and that a trail leads to a mountaintop. So why do I think if someone else has created a path for me, opened a door, found success in the career or activity that I want to pursue, I’m afraid I won’t be good enough or measure up to even bother trying??

I find joy, excitement, and thrill just in the journey of climbing a mountain- and even more in SHARING that journey with people I care about! So now, it’s time for me to change my perspective on how I view the journey of a challenge in a new career; figuring out Instagram; and boldly leading clients to help them change their lives. I have never been the best climber or the most agile hiker, but I love it and the experiences I have gained in my adventures have helped me serve my clients. These experiences have also given me things to share with my friends who I can take with me and teach them what I have learned over the years. It’s no different with this business dream of mine.

I can’t expect to be the best coach, blogger, or “influencer” (I just learned that was a thing last week!), when I’m first getting started. I was a super awkward, lanky, timid, and much weaker climber on my first pitch at 8 years old. There was no way in heck I was going to go win any kind of competition or climb the highest mountain. But I started. And now I am summiting peaks that used to be dreams and also taking my friends and family up with me. I’m still not creating new trails and I probably never will (I will gladly leave that to the professionals), but I am enjoying and pushing myself on the ones that are there. And now I’m taking people along with me who wouldn’t have had those experiences without me dragging them along (just ask my husband about his first climb with me- there was a moment he considered pushing me off the mountain).

I may not be the first, fastest, or most experienced out there doing it but here’s the thing: there is NO ONE who has seen the route, the summit, or the view from the top from MY EYES. Just like there is no other health or life coach out there with my EXACT SAME experiences, perspectives, background or voice. I may have some similarities with others and even want to mimic others because I think they are super cool and are doing things really well, but there is no one out there who is ME and offering the same things I can offer. And there is someone out there, even if just one person, who may possibly hear my voice the way I hear Rachel Hollis’ voice, and finally recognize her worth so she decides to take a step forward on the trail (or maybe even off the trail and creates a new one!).

So what about you? Where have you been holding back because you are afraid you will fail or suck or that you won’t be as good as her so there’s no point in trying? Where have you said “well she is already doing that so I guess that’s not an option for me”? I hate to break it to ya (and to myself), but reality check…there are over 7 billion people in the world. The odds of being the first or the only one to do something are getting pretty slim, my dear! What if all the doctors or firefighters or military servicemen or women said that?! If you see someone out there doing what you want to do and crushing it, don’t shy away because there’s no way you could do it that well, FOLLOW HER LEAD!! Clearly, it’s working for her! Take your individual personality and flare and make it your own and trust the fact that there is NO OTHER YOU out there and that YOU ARE WORTH SO MUCH. What you know, say, and do has value. Even if you reach just one person, that’s one person more than you would have reached if you didn’t try and you never know what she will

take and do with what you gave her.

So, go to med school, start your fashion blog (I need all the help I can get!), write your book, run your marathon, start taking that exercise class, try that hair color, create a new recipe, finally start that business you’ve been dreaming about for years even if your neighbor had the same idea! Don’t think that if the trail has already been blazed that it’s not worth taking. You are still going to get sweaty, discover your grit and perseverance, probably fail some, learn a lot about yourself, lead and inspire someone else, and see some incredible beauty on your way up. Just do it. We need you.