Fear, Uncertainty, and Making Silly Choices
I want to tell you a little story real quick... bear with me! This is kind of a mind-dump of a post. It's very raw, and may not even make sense to you. Think of it as a journal entry. Oh goodness... Here we go!
To be a mermaid, or to not be a mermaid?
I was utterly terrified when I bought my silicone mermaid tail. TERRIFIED! It was one of the most exciting moments of my life--sure! But deciding to actually buy it was something that was really very stressful too.
Should I really spend nearly $3,000.00 dollars on this thing? What will my family think? What will people say? What if I spend all of this money and something goes wrong? Or what if I pursue my dream of becoming a professional mermaid and I fail miserably? Am I being stupid for even considering going for this thing? Is this what I really want? Have I gone mad!?! All of these nasty thoughts kept swimming around in my mind. I knew in my heart what I wanted to do, but my head was coming up with all sorts of excuses to keep me from buying my silicone mermaid tail because it just seemed too risky... it was too reckless.
Looking back, I do have to say that my brain was right. It was a huge risk to take and I can't say that it was a very wise decision financially either (I lost my job shortly after... and those are very hard things for individuals with a social phobia to come by... that's a story for another day though!). I mean, I LOVE my tail; it truly feels like an extension of me. However, reflecting back on my choice to become a mermaid has made me wonder... have I actually lost my marbles??? The answer to that could quite possibly be "maybe!" And if so, they were totally worth losing, because in their place I have gained so much.
A wise man by the name of Brendon Burchard once said that "any plunge into the unknown is reckless, but that's where the treasure lies." I have plunged recklessly into the world of mermaiding, and from it I have hoisted up many sparking treasures.
From the depths I have discovered many things about developing a brand, finding a "voice," how to do all sorts of weird tech stuff (like building this website!) and how to go about doing some business things too. I have found a way to connect with other mermaids and magical critters, and can say with confidence that I am responsible for helping spread at least a few smiles onto the faces of others... at least a few! I love swimming in my tail; being a mermaid is such a unique and unforgettable experience that not many can say they'll be crossing off of their bucket list. It's great joy for me, in addition to being lots of fun for others as well.
Oh! And my silly little decision to become a big fish did give me an excuse to strengthen my friendship with one of the coolest people I have ever had the pleasure of opening a box with. Captain, I hope you aren't reading this, but just in case... I wanna say thank you for being the wonderful person that you are! ;D (seriously!)
Well shoot... I feel like I'm getting off topic here! Let's wrap this up!
So, all of that to say that even though buying a silicone mermaid tail probably wasn't the most reasonable thing for me to do (and felt super scary too), it was one of the best choices that I have ever made.
I am currently struggling with a lot of fear and uncertainty in a few areas of my life as I write this, and therefore write it so both you and I can be reminded that sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone and do the things that make you feel a little crazy in order to discover the things that make you crazy happy. It'll be frightening and it may be rough, but unless you take that leap of faith and dive deep into the waters of the unknown you will never know what beautiful adventures await you beneath the surface.
I hope you chase your dreams to the bottom of the ocean and emerge with many great stories to tell.
XOXO- Mermaid Phantom
(P.S.) If you're feeling a little uneasy about making a decision or pursuing a passion, you should take a look at the videos below. They have helped me tremendously and I think you'll love them too!
Helpful Videos to Watch
Overcoming Fear
Following your Fears
Following your Intuition
(P.P.S.) If you know of anyone who might find this post helpful or encouraging, then please feel free to share it with them! Thanks again for reading... have a truly magical day!