October 26, 2026

Fear gets a voice. It doesn't get the final say.

I've learned something about fear, especially when it comes to rejection. For a long time, I didn't realize how much the possibility of hearing no influenced me.

It could make me hesitate before I'd even begun. It could make me hold back when I wanted to reach out and question something I had previously felt confident about. Sometimes, it made staying where I was feel a whole lot safer than risking where I wanted to go.

But here's what I've discovered: Just because fear is present doesn't mean it deserves to be in charge.

Think about how often we wait to feel ready. We tell ourselves we'll move when we feel more confident, but often, confidence grows because we took the very step we were afraid to take.

I've discovered that some of my greatest growth has come from doing things while my knees were still shaking.

• Hearing no and realizing I was still okay.

• Trying something and discovering I had more in me than I thought.

• Taking a step without knowing exactly how it would turn out.

The fear was real. It just didn't get to make the decision.

We can miss so many growth opportunities, not because we aren't capable, but because we've let fear convince us we aren't ready.

What if fear isn't a stop sign, but a sign that we're entering territory we've never traveled before?

Unfamiliar doesn't mean we're headed in the wrong direction. Sometimes, it's exactly where growth begins!

So, buckle up! There just might be something worth discovering on the other side.

Here's a little nudge as you head into the week: Listen to fear when it has something useful to say, be wise about your next step, but don't let fear make a decision that belongs to you.

Fear gets a voice. You get to decide what happens next.

Face forward. Take the step!

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Carry It With You

What is this week's Happy Monday inviting me to notice?

Where am I letting fear make a decision that belongs to me?

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Until next Monday, keep becoming!