"Fear and Growth" are word and opposite.

 

Would it be cliche if I said that I have started this and stopped several times?

Lol, I guess so. But then, since most cliches are true, let's just leave it that way. It's not the point anyways.

But before we even get there, happy new month to you.❤️

I hope that October favors you in every way possible.

Okay, down to the point. 

Some weeks back, I read Ope Soladoye's first newsletter, and guys, it was beautiful. 

I could relate to the whole post, but then one thing I picked out is the reference she made. I think a movie she watched where the person postponed something for 15 years.

It's really funny, crazy in fact, how time flies when you're scared of something or the outcome, and then you procrastinate.

Of course, fear and procrastination have to be the absolutely worst combo ever. 

You keep on telling yourself that there is still time and the fear pushes you on, then all the time is gone. It's one of the worst things to happen, ngl.

One thing I have learned from fear—yes, I have learned from it, sad as that may be. You do pick on things when you live with something for so long, lol—is that fear is crippling.

Fear of failure, fear of not being good enough, fear of the world, fear in all its malicious forms, fear of the unknown… and that's what is so crazy.

Why should I be scared of what I don't know yet? Why should I be scared of what I think will happen when I haven't even tried it out yet?

Just now many times has fear stopped us from being? How many times has fear stopped us from doing what we need to?

Sometimes, I get so scared, it's appalling. Yes, I know I'm that girl, I know I'm all that and yes, I can do this and do that, so why is it that when it's time to take that last step, we procrastinate?

I wrote an article on procrastination sometime ago and I mentioned fear of failure as part of the reasons why we procrastinate.

Right now, I don't think I understood the extent to which that was true at the time I wrote it.

It's like the more I do stuff and the more I put myself out there, the more I get scared of doing more, and the more I look for ways to avoid doing it.

I held a Storytelling class where I taught 100+ creatives how to be better Storytellers. But guys, you won't believe that after I designed the flyer, I didn't post it.😂

I didn't understand, myself what was going on but I did not post it. And it was just crazy. Because why would I be hosting a class and be scared to post it when it's premium value I only dish out?

Laslas, glory be to God it went absolutely well. And I'm grateful that fear was not able to stop me from that one.

Yes, fear of the unknown, very crazy indeed. Yet it happens. There's just that "what if?" voice in your head. 

"Okay and if it happens, what happens next? If this unknown that I fear so much happens to me, what next? It can't be the end of the world for me."

Someone great told me that, and I've been holding it to my chest. I'm learning to always believe in that because I can not let fear take from me more than it already has. I won't even let that happen, on God.

I have started this letter and stopped it because I feared it won't be good enough. In fact, I held to my promise and started typing one exactly a week after the first, but you already know what happened.

So I got AG's letter (I always love it) two days ago and I finally started writing this. I'll share the part that got to me the most.

So guys, what has fear been stopping you from doing? I want you to take charge and stop fear today, this second, this minute, this month. 

It's not easy, but it's a one-step-at-a-time thing. And we'll come out triumphant.

Fear has nothing on us. And that's that on that. Or that's on Mary had a little lamb. Or and that's on Grace finally got to sending her next newsletter. (Dfkm, ignore me plix😂)

Hmm, I want to catch y'all up on the different things that have been happening in Grace's life but I think I'll leave that for next week. What do you think?

In other news, my last podcast episode was on Emotional intelligence. You can listen to it there. 

And for my next episode, this Wednesday hopefully, I think I'm going back to how we used to do it once every time.

If you're not familiar with it, don't worry. It's when I ask questions and you give me your replies. Then I feature your answers on the episode and my own opinion. If you'll be interested in that, just hmu or drop a comment.

I think that's all there is for now. 

Btw, no one suggested a new name o.😑 Be like say we'll continue using Grace's newsletters and I'll continue calling you dearies.😂

I'm joking o. 

I really do hope that you have the best experience this month.

With all my love, 

ShadesofGrace.❤