This year at Liberty Dance Center, we are doing a year long theme of “Live your best life”. Each month will have a challenge that we hope our dance community will participate in. For September, that challenge is to DO SOMETHING THAT SCARES YOU.
The first step towards something new is always the hardest. And it’s usually not hard physically, but it’s hard mentally. What makes it so hard is a four letter word… FEAR.
I remember seeing a video clip of Will Smith talking about fear once, and I think about it often. He said something to the effect of, we are MOST afraid when we are actually most safe. And then when we actually do the thing we are afraid of, we usually feel good, peaceful even. Take skydiving for example… in the plane BEFORE the jump is when we are shaking and feel the knots in our stomach. But at that moment, we are still completely safe. You hear from those that have skydived before that once they take the leap they feel a rush of excitement and then a lot of peace. Who would have thought?!
Last week former LDC alum Hollyn and I had raised a combined total of over $7,000 for the MACC fund by rappelling down a 10 story building. Did I mention I’m afraid of heights? But it was for a great cause. So we strapped up, went through the training and climbed to the roof of the building. They told us to stand up. On the edge of the 147 foot building. With our heels hanging off. Fear being felt? Absolutely!! But we had to trust the ropes, lean back and breathe. And since they were taking photos, we had to smile and pose. So we did… we are dancers after all. 😉
Taking that first step off the edge of the building and on to the vertical side of the building was hard. Really hard. But we did it. And we rappelled down. When we got to the bottom, we hugged, laughed and decided we wanted to do it again. Yes, after a few TV interviews and hugs from our families, we climbed back up and did it again. And guess what? It was easier the second time. We relaxed and were able to truly enjoy ourselves and this amazing experience we were lucky to be having.
That’s the thing about fear. So many people get stuck BEFORE even taking the first step. We get stuck in our minds and all the “what ifs” and “I could never do that.” I encourage you to take that difficult first step as you never know the magic that will happen on the other side. That experience, along with many others, is something I will never forget and will be a catalyst for the next time I have a challenge I don’t think I can do. I will know I took that scary first step and that I can do it again.
So what will YOU do this month that scares you? Will it be standing in the front of the dance class instead of the back? Maybe saying hi to someone new at school? Trying something that you have never done before. We challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and give it a try. Be sure to post a photo and tag us too and use the hashtag, #challengeaccepted.
~Miss Kate
