One foot in front of the next, I had just climbed up a redwood tree and was now standing, harnessed in, on a platform 30 feet up in the air in the middle of a redwood forest. In front of me was a rickety bridge waiting to be crossed. It had some narrow slats but was mostly open spaces and it didn't look all that secure.

I stood on the first slat for what seemed like forever as I tried to get my legs to stop shaking, so I could begin to cross the bridge and have a chance of getting across without falling. All I could focus on was my legs and the fact that they weren't doing what I needed them to do.

Tom, the coordinator, was across the bridge waiting for me. "What are you doing?" he asked. "I'm waiting for my legs to stop shaking," I replied. Then he asked me a question that resonated through my entire body with force: "What if you did it with shaky legs?" What? Do it with shaky legs? Wow. It seemed so simple and yet it hadn't occurred to me that I didn't have to be perfectly ready and have everything in place before I moved into action. "Alright," I said, "why not?" So off I went, one shaky step at a time. And what happened next was incredible.

I began to notice the sunlight through the trees, the sounds of the birds, how gracefully I was navigating the bridge, and how strong and capable I felt facing this challenge that initially scared me. At that moment, I realized that I was no longer afraid of falling. And that I was enjoying the experience so much, I didn't want it to end.

Back on solid ground, I realized what a powerful life lesson that was. How often do we wait to have it all together before making a move? Sure, some things require preparation and there comes a point when we can analyze and plan all we want, but the only way to get something done is to do it! If we wait until we feel we are in control, we may never accomplish our goal and we forfeit all the unimagined experiences that go along with it.

What's something that's giving you shaky legs right now?

Breathe. This seems simple enough but we tend to hold our breath when we're scared and standing on shaky legs.

Start small and take a step. A wise man once said to me that if your next step feels overwhelming, then it's likely too big. Better to get there in many steps than be overwhelmed and not get there at all.

Savor the Journey. You may have a destination or outcome in mind but be aware of what you are passing along the way. Notice the opportunities that present themselves simply because you took the next step.



Next month: Hello Fear

Are you looking for workshops that have lasting impact? Is your organization ready to make meaningful change? Are you and your colleagues hungry to be treated as humans and not just the function you perform?

Lisa works with groups to get to the underlying issues that support lasting change, that improve morale, enhance collaboration, improve customer service and reduce turnover.

Articulate and passionate, Lisa is highly skilled at creating dynamic environments that deeply engage participants in a meaningful and interactive way, leading to big payoffs for organizations and those they serve.

Contact Lisa at lisa@orangecoaching.com to discuss your organization's needs and she'll create a customized workshop to get your group where you REALLY want to go.