Written by: Nicole M. Augustine, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Why does taking the leap of faith feel so scary? That feeling in you that makes your heart race and your breath quicken? The voice in your mind picks apart the idea and unhinges the logic, leaving you questioning whether the leap is worth it.
In a world full of naysayers, it can be hard to believe in yourself. And many of us knock the idea down before it's even seen the light of day. When was the last time you allowed yourself to dream of the best for YOU? How much more time will you allow to pass without making actionable movements toward the things you want in life? How long will you continue to let the feeling of fear unhinge the logic of your imagination?
Why won't you take the leap of faith, past the feeling of fear, and believe in the logic of your innermost consciousness: your imagination?
Just remember that if you choose to not take the leap, then the unrealized dream within you will be dormant due to YOUR lack of action, and it will be no one else's fault but your own. That reality is often the hardest pill to swallow. Yet, when we sit with ourselves and stand in a place of humility and honesty, we can admit that our present condition in life results from the choices we've made along the way. Sometimes those choices included avoidance, procrastination, doubt, and of course, the feeling of fear. We often even voice and speak words of belief in self, yet our actions show the opposite.
Before you drive down the road of self-judgment, remember we are all here experiencing the same thing! You can relate to my words because, like me, you, too, have experienced the feeling of fear that leads to doubting the ideas in your mind. Many of us are living half-truths and partial dreams. Just ask the people in your life. You're not alone, really. The journey to a state of belief and trust in oneself is not easy. But, it is necessary if we are to live to our fullest potential.
The first step is admitting the truth of your current existence and the need for change. Take a moment and think about it. What is your truth? What needs to change for you? What do you really want in life? If you could have or be anything, what would that look like?
Step two is to write about your dream using a copious number of descriptive phrases. You should be limitless in your description. Let your imagination fly. What harm could that do? Look around you now. Our ancestors, who lived and existed thousands, hundreds, even as short as 60 years ago, never imagined what we are doing today was possible or probable. Imagine speaking with a family member who lived in the early 1900s, 1800s, or 1700s! They would not believe what you describe as everyday living for us. It would be considered magic or witchcraft! In fact, they would have likely lauded you as insane AND likely ended your life. The impossible is simply that which has not yet happened. Our world is living proof of that.
Just remember, though, unicorns don't exist!
This leads me to step three, ground yourself in reality. It would be silly to set out on this journey with delusions. There are core universal laws that simply cannot be broken, like the law of gravity or the law of cause and effect. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. That is a fact, so you're not looking for miracles here.
Step 3 is often the hardest for folx to grasp because Step 3 truly changes our mindset. At the beginning of this journey toward living our highest potential, we are often filled with fear, insecurity, and doubt. In those moments, instead of believing in what we wrote in Step 2, we question whether or not we are being realistic about our dreams. The best strategy is to refocus on the truth and remember: We are all uniquely equipped with a dream directly linked to who we are as a person. That which you desire is possible because it belongs to you specifically. It is your dream.
The Wright Brothers believed that flight was possible, Benjamin Franklin believed electricity was possible, and Ford believed that motorized movement was possible. These are just a few examples of the things we take for granted today that existed as mere imagination to our ancestors. Just imagine the mental fortitude it took for the inventors of the past to push past what everyone said was impossible to do anyway because they had a dream of what was possible.
What will be your courageous action in 2023?
Nicole M. Augustine, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Nicole M. Augustine is a social entrepreneur, public health professional, and social justice advocate. She was born in Inglewood, CA, in the early 80s during the decade in America known for the "crack epidemic ." This was her first experience with social injustice, racial inequality, and the roots of trauma that plague many people. Her tale is one of resilience and opportunity, as her grandmother relocated the family to moved Edmond, OK, in the early 90s. After experiencing the stark contrast of both living environments, she became intrigued by the core reasons for differences in community outcomes. Nicole found herself studying sociology and public health and was drawn to understanding the root causes of health disparities. She received her B.A. in Sociology from Cornell University and her Master of Public Health from The George Washington University School of Public Health. Throughout her career in public health, she has focused her work on understanding health disparities and social inequality. Her personal life mission is to drive community and societal change while creating generational shifts in community wellness outcomes.
