There is a huge cost to being a visionary.

Having a vision to create your future already sets you apart from most people on the planet.

Most people live a default life rather than a created life.

Being willing to create your vision and bring it into reality often brings up fears and also brings about loss.

1. Fear of success

   We've all faced a fear of failure at some point, but the closer you get to bringing your vision into reality, you actually may experience a fear of success. When you imagine you life drastically changing, it can bring up worries about what your new life will look like.

   The antidote: Ask yourself, “what will this success mean about me?” And write out every single thing it could mean about you. Once you get this on paper, you will be able to rationalize them a bit more. If not, call me. :)

2. Fear of disappointing others

   The typical fear of failure can become amplified into a fear of disappointing others as we socialize our vision with our colleagues or teams. When others buy into our vision, we feel a sense of responsibility to them and fear letting them down.

   I think of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who had a vision, and had a enormous amount of people committed to him and to his vision. Imagine if he had said, “What if it doesn’t work?”

   The antidote: Commitment. You have to be so committed you are willing to die trying. This commitment will override the fear.

3. Loss of the status quo

   This is intertwined with a fear of success. All you have ever known is life as you currently know it. Losing the status quo as your vision becomes achievable brings up the physiological response of fear that we are hard wired with from our early ancestors. We want to cling to what is safe and familiar. Losing the status quo actually feels like a danger as we anticipate the unknown.

   The antidote: think about a major change you sustained in the past. (coronavirus anyone?) Think about how you adapted. Not only did you survive the change, but you probably found a way to thrive.

4. Loss of friendships.

   When you take the steps to bring your vision into reality, it involves risk taking and doing things differently than you’ve done them before. The people who know you are comfortable when you aren’t taking risks and pushing the envelope. Once you start to change, they get uncomfortable, and they want to bring you back to their world. Their insecurity takes on the form of doubt. They say things to you like, “there’s no way you can pull that off,” or “that’s not possible” or any other version of doubt that signals they don’t believe in your vision.

   You have a choice. You can agree with them, and stay comfortable, giving up your dreams in the process.

   Or you can prove them wrong, and pursue your vision with 100% commitment.

   If you decide to prove them wrong, the relationship may not be strong enough to sustain this, and they may drop you. It sounds extreme, but your very presence feels threatening to them, because you are doing what they would never have the courage to do. But this is exactly what is happening.

Where are you in pursuing your vision? Have you encountered these fears or losses?

Reply and let me know.

Love,

Audrey