This post brought to you by Allstate. All opinions are 100% mine.
Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were fearful or apprehensive about something? I’m sure you have. We all have! Have you felt the pure relief and elation of letting go of that fear and negativity to be brave and triumph over those feelings? I’m sure you have, and that’s why I was thrilled when I was asked to share my story on behalf of Allstate Good Life.
There have been many times when I’ve felt crippled by fear. The older I get, and really the more children I’ve had, the brave I have become. I have developed a much more intense personal strength that has helped guide me through tough times. Instead of just sharing one story, I thought I would share a few examples with you from my own life.
- As a child, I was always friends with people from all walks of life, but I lacked confidence and didn’t know how to assert myself. In junior high, I joined the speech and drama team and auditioned for (and made it into) an acting troupe at my local community theatre. I was able to participate in numerous events and productions, including a play in which I had several singing solos. It was such a wonderful feeling and I was so proud of myself for coming out of my shell and overcoming the fear.
- My first child was born via Cesarean, which had gone against every single one of my birth wishes. She was 9lb, 9oz and the doctor told me she was just too big to be birthed naturally. I was brave enough to explore my options and have been able to successfully VBAC all 3 of my other children since then! By the way, they were 10 lb 1 oz, 9 lb 11 oz, and 10 lb babies! All natural, drug-free labor and deliveries.
- In the past, I told my husband I wanted to stay in my hometown forever. The truth is, I had a fear of moving away from my family and from my established friendships. Heck, I was worried about how I would deal with having to make new friends and learn to drive somewhere else. 3 years ago, we decided to put our house on the market and took a leap of faith! 2 years ago, we finally got an offer and quickly had to move with nowhere to go and no job established yet. We took the leap of faith, and were rewarded greatly! At first, we moved to Dallas for a year and a half, and now we’re in Fort Worth. I couldn’t be happier. It has been totally worth it, and the traffic is about a million times better than I feared it would be! I am totally living the Good Life!
What about you? How have you looked fear in the face and proven that you could be victorious?
Maggie C says
It’s sometimes so hard to take that first step but you’ve done really well doing so! I wish you many more successful first steps in your life 🙂
Jenn says
Yes, the first step is so scary! It’s totally worth it, though. 🙂
Jenn recently posted…Wordless Wednesday – Family Fun Days
Liz says
Sometimes the things that seem the scariest turn out to be the very best decisions we can make, although it’s hard to know it at the time!
Jenn says
Yes, it takes a leap of faith to get the ball rolling. 🙂 EEk!
Jenn recently posted…Wordless Wednesday – Family Fun Days
Cece says
I loved this post! It’s amazing what we can do when we get past our fears.
Jenn says
It certainly is amazing! Our inner strength is a force to be reckoned with.
Jenn recently posted…Wordless Wednesday – Family Fun Days
Emily says
Wow, you sure are tough to have had multiple big babies like that. My niece is 11 weeks and still only 9lbs 13oz. I can’t imagine giving birth to one that size. It’s great that you were able to turn it into a positive experience that gave you confidence in yourself. 🙂
Jenn says
When my kids are born, I’m always surprised when people call them big – they seem little and sweet to me! LOL
Jenn recently posted…Wordless Wednesday – Family Fun Days