What are you afraid of?
We all have them, FEARS that keep us at bay, playing small, not daring to live our dreams, and not “rock the boat”.
I grew up in Sweden the country where we actually have a LAW that states the following (taken from Wikipedia):
The Law of Jante is the idea that there is a pattern of group behaviour towards individuals within Scandinavian communities that negatively portrays and criticises individual success and achievement as unworthy and inappropriate. … Generally used colloquially as a sociological term to negatively describe an attitude towards individuality and success common in Sweden and the rest of the Nordic countries, the term refers to a mentality that de-emphasizes individual effort and places all emphasis on the collective, while discouraging those who stand out as achievers.
So basically I was breast fed with this fear of sticking out, shine bright and follow my passion, because what would the others say?! That fear has deep roots and it takes time to release it, but it can be done. As long as you don’t give up on yourself and your dreams you will find a way to release those fears, one by one.
I sometimes sit here in my little office (which I’m so grateful to have, by the way) and feel like no one is appreciating what I’m doing, no one is reading what I’m putting out there and I might as well go back and get a “real” job. Yes, it’s true, and it takes an enormous amount of energy to engage in this self pity (because I know deep within that it’s not true at all). Energy that I could have spent on more fun, life loving activities like recording that corny Christmas video I had in mind for you all… 😉 And I’m tired, oh so tired, of letting those fears and “Law of Jante” run my life. So I’ve committed to start peeling them off, one after the other, starting TODAY.
Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to release those energy sucking fears and move on and actually LIVE the rock star life that you want to create?
Isn’t it a perfect time to start doing that as we are approaching a new year?
Remember, the NUMBER ONE regret of the dying:
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
“This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.” Author: Bronnie Ware
Don’t be one of those having that regret at the end of your life!
The world needs you and your special talents, passions and love, so PLEASE go out in the world and share it with us before your time is up!
And if you need help to get started, just give me a shout! I have a bunch of free resources that you could start to check out 🙂
This is so true! No wonder it’s a bit difficult to “ta för sig” sometimes. 🙂
Thank you for a very to-the-point blog post, Karin!
Thank you Hanna! It’s time to show Jante where “skåpet ska stå”! 🙂
Keep kicking Jante’s butt.
Ein Sprichwort, welches ich immer gerne zitiere: Nur tote Fische schwimmen mit dem Strom. Merry Xmas.
THANK YOU BEAT!!! Love the Sprichwort 😉
I’m reading what you put out there 🙂 love this post! So true, we all have our fears. But strangely sometimes we believe we’re the only ones who have them…
Thanks Julia for reaching out and making me feel less alone 🙂
Yes, I’m reading what you put out there as well. Keep writing!
Thanks for the encouragement, Lisette 🙂