And welcome to the first week of "Fear Challenge!" I really look forward to the chance to write about facing down some of my own fears, and especially the opportunity to read about some of you facing your own fears. Here's how this will work: each week, I'll randomly choose a page from the journal (see citation below) and post it here on Blogger. I'll check back at the end of the week with my results (warts and all!) and I'd love for you to do the same. But you can also feel free to lurk. And that's it. There's no commitment. So, if you're ready to go, here's the first Fear Challenge of 2015 (if you have questions, thoughts, comments, please email me at deedeestoutconsulting@gmail.com privately or simply post it here. Do please remember this blog is public):
Valentine's Day 2015
"If there are two hundred people in a room and one of them doesn't like me, I've got to get out." Marlon BrandoYour job (should you choose to accept it):
Write a bit about what you did this week to challenge your 'social courage' & how you succeeded in facing it or not so much. Either way is perfectly OK and completely normal!
A Bit of Backstory on my Fear Challenge (the results will come next weekend):
Believe it or not, I was a shy kid - and I'm still one of those folks who's uncomfortable in groups of people (especially large ones and with strangers, such as parties. Yikes!!). Truth is, I'm ONLY really comfy if I'm "on stage" (think training, teaching; working somehow). The rest of the time, I really don't like to be in groups. Really! I am completely intimidated by not being able to talk to people easily, I don't feel a part of the group, on and on (sound familiar anyone?). And it's not that I don't like people; quite the opposite: my fear is that you all won't like me.
So...this week I am flying down to LA to go to a concert (Imagine Dragons) that my son is the Creative Director (he works for Moment Factory, a production company who counts among their clients, Imagine Dragons). This will put me in a crowd of not only thousands of strangers (potentially) but also likely folks much younger than I. I haven't been to a concert in many years and don't think I've ever had the chance to go backstage. I also get to watch my son at work which I've never done and I surely wouldn't want to embarrass him. So, lots of fears! And excitement.....if everything goes well, I'll hope to post a photo of the show here next Sunday when I return. Wish me luck - and I wish you all luck with your Fear Challenge this week, too.
Till next time (Sunday, 2/22),
Dee-Dee
*Based on the book "Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You: a journal," by Dian Smith & Robie Rogge (2013; Potter Style)
