Turn Fear into Fantastic ✨

Hey Gorgeous! What if fear wasn’t something to run from… but something that could lead you to something fantastic? In this episode, we’re flipping the script on fear and learning how to transform those anxious, uncertain moments into possibility for growth, joy, and a little bit of fantastic magic that God has waiting for you in 3 short steps! 💛💜✨💫 

Transcript

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Hi, I'm Annie, and welcome to A Gorgeous and Graceful Life, the podcast for women who love a little sparkle but crave a little something deeper. Here we talk faith, rest, purpose, and real life with joy, honesty, and grace. No pressure to be perfect, no hustle needed to get into heaven. Just beautiful weekly reminders that God is already at work in your gorgeous life. So take a breath, grab your coffee, and make yourself right at home. I am super high on life this week. I was finally able to visit my mom in Texas after all of their winter storms that they've had. And so, anyways, on my way home from Texas, I remembered this particular flight that I had last year. I was on a flight back from a conference and I was sitting across from a woman and her two little girls. One of the little girls was probably about five or six years old, and the other one was definitely eight because she told us she was eight. About an hour into the flight, we hit the most vicious turbulence that I have ever experienced in my entire life. And friends, I'm not a fan of turbulence at all. And there I was sitting in my seat. I was literally clenching both armrests and just praying to God to just make it stop. I think my life flashed before my eyes at some point. It was really that bad. Well, anyways, the two little girls that were across from me had their hands in the air, screaming and laughing as if they were on a roller coaster. And I was thinking in my head, like, if only they knew the real deal, um, they'd be terrified. But then I'm like, or would they? So, anyways, on today's episode, I thought it would be cool to talk about something that every single one of us experiences, um, which is fear. But instead of us treating fear like this big, scary monster hiding under our bed, we're gonna talk about something a little bit different. What if we could turn fear into something fantastic? Because sometimes the things that scare us the most are actually the things that are inviting us into a bigger, brighter, and more magical version of our life. Fear shows up like in so many ways for women. Sometimes it's the fear of starting something new, sometimes it's like that fear of looking dumb or silly, sometimes it's the fear of failing or disappointing people. And sometimes it's simply the fear of stepping into something bigger than we've ever done before. But here's what's important to remember fear isn't always a stop sign. Sometimes fear is just like the doorbell, letting you know that something meaningful is waiting for you on the other side. So today I want to share with you three magical ways to start turning your fear into something fantastic. So, step number one, see fear as an invitation and not your enemy. When fear shows up, it's not here to stop you. It's sometimes a little nudge that God is about to do something fantastic in your life. Perhaps you're going to learn something that you've never learned, or you may meet someone that introduces you to the next level of your success. So RSVP and step toward it, not away from it. Step two is to shift into possibility. Sometimes things can happen to us that seem odd, disappointing, or unfair. But instead of spiraling into fear, focus on that happily ever after moment of the circumstance. For example, if your washing machine stopped working today, like instead of focusing on how you're going to wash clothes today, imagine how fun it will be to select your new washing machine. Like, if you spill coffee on your shirt, don't think about what others are gonna think about that stain on your shirt. Think about how fun it will be to purchase a new one. Like, are you also terrified of like what your lab results are gonna be at the doctor's office? You wanna shift into how much healthier you'll be if and after you get treatments or prescribed medication. Another way to think about this entirely is to visualize that you and fear, you are both standing at the starting line of a race. And your goal is to run past the fear and get ahead of it and then get to the finish line first. This is essentially how you win at fear. In other words, if you can already see that you've won the race, you will know that you have nothing to fear. But if you stand at the starting line and you never move, then fear will beat you in the race. And you, my friend, are not a loser. Step number three is start the fun so that the fantastic things can happen. A lot of times, fear pops up around an event or activity that we aren't like a hundred per 100% sure about, or that we are trying to avoid. Once you can visualize the fantastic outcome, you can take the next step and you can make it fun. This is where you recreate the experience. Just like the little girls on my flight that turned all that turbulence into a fun, exhilarating ride, you can do the same thing. Now, let me give you a few examples. Do you have a job interview coming up? Well, you can start the fun by getting your outfit ready or plan a pre-interview party or celebration with your friends. This way, your friends can wish you well. They may even be able to give you some tips. Do you have a great idea for a business? But are you scared that you don't have what it takes to make it happen? Turn that fear into a fantastic field trip. Go out there and discover things related to your business idea. Maybe visit a potential competitor and learn how your business can be better. Decide on your brand colors, design your business card. Once you add the fun, the fear will start to disappear, and then the fantastic things will happen. Remember, God does not want you to be fearful. In fact, the most repeated phrase in the Bible is do not be afraid, which serves to us as this divine reference and reminder that we have nothing to fear with God's presence in our lives. So when fear pops up, invite opportunity, shift into that possibility, and start the fun. Fantastic things are literally waiting for you. Now, before I go, I want to share with you your gorgeous and graceful life weekly challenge. Here's what you're gonna do: think of one thing that feels a little scary to you right now. Maybe it's starting a new project, um, or maybe it's having like a conversation, maybe it's trying something you've never done before. And instead of running away from it, you're gonna try to turn it into a tiny adventure and add some fun to it. Because sometimes courage doesn't look like just being fearless, sometimes courage just looks like us relaxing and laughing a little while we try. Remember, God's got you, always has, and he always will. If you loved this episode, don't forget to subscribe and share with your gorgeous friends. Until next time, live gorgeously, walk gracefully, and joy will find you.