So here is the thing about doing new things: it’s pretty unnerving, and sometimes downright terrifying! But, every time we stretch, and do something just a little bit outside of our comfort zone, we grow. When we face our fear, and then come through the other side unscathed, we are making ourselves better, stronger, and more confident.
I would dare to say that the last couple years have been years of tremendous growth for our family, and I mean that in the sense of facing fears.
As we started sharing our plan to travel, people would ask us questions like, “Aren’t you scared to leave your home and take off across the country?” “Aren’t you nervous about leaving your friends and family?” “Aren’t you worried that you’ll run out of money?” “Don’t you think you should rent an RV before you leave your home to live in one?” “Aren’t you afraid to homeschool your kids?”
The answer to every single one of those questions was, HECK YEAH!!!

Believe me, we asked each other these same questions day after day. After playing out all the scenarios, and changing our minds repeatedly, we just had to decide to make a plan and execute it.
MAKE A PLAN
But, we broke down everything into small steps, and just kept working towards our goal. At the last minute, when we had met our budget, we talked ourselves out of the entire plan, just one week before putting our house up for rent. The “safe” plan was to keep the house and the money, and just remodel and stay put. Our house was clean, fixed up, purged of excess items, and we almost backed out! Can you believe it? If you’ve ever been afraid, you probably can believe it…the fear took hold.
TAKE THAT, FEAR!
So, what happened? We pushed the fear aside. Terrified, with absolutely no idea how to drive our massive RV, we hit the gas pedal. With very little practice, no clue how to use the heater, the generator, or even how to put gas in it, we took the plunge. If we didn’t leave just then, we were afraid we’d never go. Did we survive? Apparently so. Do I regret it? Absolutely, positively NOT!
Here’s the thing: When we chose to do scary things, we can always GO BACK. If it doesn’t work out, we can often “undo” it. If you want to move across the country, JUST GO! If you hate it, you can always go back. If you’ve always dreamed of living abroad, just push through the fear and DO IT! If you hate it, you can always go back. If you want to start that new business, GIVE IT A TRY! If it doesn’t work out, you can go back to that fabulous job you’re working at right now.
REGRET IS YOUR WORST ENEMY!
The one thing you cannot undo is REGRET. Don’t live with regret. It’s okay to do scary things. You may even find that it changes you. You may realize that it makes you better. Or happier. Or healthier. You may find that once you are empowered to face and conquer your fears, the possibilities that unfold in your life are endless!
This question posed by Jon Acuff at the World Domination Summit last year has stuck with me, and continues to inspire me and remind me that it is okay to be afraid:
Will I face the fear of today
or the regret of forever?
I choose fear. How about you?