“Comfort is the Opposite of Progress” -Zendaya

Sometimes life brings opportunities that trigger total breakthroughs. Last week was one of those weeks for me. 

I was faced with two situations that made me want to run in the opposite direction. Literally, I was hoping my flights were cancelled so I could avoid going to Australia! I think if I hadn’t been on this journey the last year and half of living a cleaner, more healthy lifestyle, I probably would have! Run the other way, that is.

I was offered two opportunities in Australia. Louis Vuitton invited me to shoot a video and a company that I recently joined the board of asked me to come out for the first board meeting, to meet the team, and talk to large groups of employees.

Public speaking always brings up my anxiety and then add a camera to that and it’s over for me. So agreeing to get in front of the camera for Louis Vuitton was definitely out of my comfort zone. 

When it comes to business and this new board position I took on, I often feel like I’m not qualified. I get insecure and feel like I don’t deserve to be there or that anyone who meets me is thinking “why is she here?” “She’s not qualified for this.” 

Since I made the commitment to being on this board of directors, I had no choice this time but to move through my resistance and show up. I was so focused on the board member responsibility, that I didn’t even have time to stress about being on camera for Louis Vuitton. I have to say I am really proud of the video. Since I didn’t have time to stress, I was present and felt completely natural and it really comes across! This experience really built up my confidence for speaking on camera. 

Then the next test was right around the corner and all of my self worth stuff was surfacing. I had to talk to over 500 employees from across Australia about my story, my brand, and what I had to bring to the table. This company is 57% women which is amazing and I felt a sense of purpose when speaking to them. Then again I was faced with the challenge of more public speaking  when I agreed to speak on a panel about “the age of influence.” Needless to say, it wasn’t without its stresses, but I felt like I finally faced some big resistances and came out the other side feeling more confident and capable. 

These experiences made me think of all the times in my life that I have let resistance win. When smaller opportunities would have presented themselves and I must have let the excuse of why I cant or shouldn’t or don’t want to, become the reality instead of leaning into the discomfort of working with what’s showing up there. When the reward is less obvious, how many times have talked myself into believing in my resistance?? I’ve decided to pay closer attention to when I feel the aversion to working through something and take the space to face it.