And, I’m back.

I’ve been in New York City since Thursday and just returned. Woke up late for work.. feeling a little disheveled, but excited for what’s ahead since my announcement the other day (hint: I mention it near the end and, while we’re on the topic, thanks for your incredible support.. wonderful comments and emails telling me that I was brave… me, brave? Wow, what a compliment and honor, so thank you everyone.)

Last May, in NYC with Rob. What can I say? I love it there.

I read something today by Seth Godin (do you read him at all?). He’s touted as one of the world’s greatest marketers, and I would have to agree. Although his work is mainly in the realm of marketing, he has great aphorisms to daily life – after all, in a sea of mish-mash and noise, how can we make ourselves stand out? That’s what his words get to the core of – way beyond marketing.

So, he throws out the following question in a recent blog post (I read them faithfully every day):

“what are you afraid of?”

..and he’s not talking about monsters under the bed or the ghosts I’m almost positive live in my basement (it’s ok, I’m cool with it). No, he’s talking about something much bigger. I suggest you pop over, really, it’ll take just a few minutes, and have a quick read, then ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?”. The results, especially if you say what you fear out loud, might surprise you. (And you know what saying things out loud can do.)

Here’s what happened when I did it – I realized the things that scare me are:

-being judged
-failing
-not being good enough
-that I’m too old to try some things for the first time
-my potential
-handling huge success
-regrets

Um, that wasn’t easy, but worth it.

Try saying your fears, out loud, in the mirror – then stop.

Try saying those things out loud, in the mirror, then stop and look at yourself.

Try saying those things out loud, in the mirror, then stop and look at yourself, take a deep breath and then tell yourself – no, wait, promise yourself – to use those fears as fuel.

Here’s what I mean: I’ve learned this year to let my fear propel me. To let it be the ‘person’ who says I can’t. To be the one ‘person’ I want to prove wrong. To be the thing that fuels me, rather than the thing to defeat me. So much fear can exist within us, that, if we used that energy for fuel to get us somewhere, we’d be… unstoppable. We’d just go places, I think.

Atop the Empire State Building at midnight. Just look at all the possibility.

That’s what I realized in NYC this weekend, as I met and saw famous people, watched thousands of strangers walk past me – many of them who are transplants to New York, just following a dream – took a new yoga class, ate new food and shared space with others who used their fears to get them somewhere great.

Because, in the end, the fear doesn’t ever go away so you might as well learn to use for some good.

If you want to, leave your fear here in the comments area or make your own list and find a mirror near by. Tell me how it goes.