The Year of Facing Fear

Making resolutions and setting goals can be exciting. We have grand ambitions of what we can do, see, achieve, and become over the course of a new year. But translating intentions into action can seem overwhelming - even scary. After all, most things worth pursuing require facing a certain measure of fear.

Every championship athlete has faced an opponent she didn't think she could overcome. Every successful entrepreneur has encountered skepticism and resistance. But they persisted, planned, and pushed beyond their comfort zones to achieve their goals. And isn't the same thing true for the rest of us?

When I think of the most rewarding experiences in my own life, I can see the fears I had to face along the way: packing up and moving to a new city in which I didn't know a soul for a job I knew very little about - overcoming insecurity to submit an application for a yoga teacher training program - continuing to pursue a family when we were told it would be a rough road - stepping away from the familiar to pursue a passion with no guarantee of success... At each juncture I was tempted to back away, but I instead pressed on, and the result has been an amazing and rewarding adventure.

As I look at the goals I have set for myself and this little venture over the next year, I am a bit anxious. But I am also excited.  This year I am again taking myself out of my comfort zone. I am excited to see where it leads, and I hope you will join me for the journey.

In the months ahead, we will check back in with some of the Trailblazers who have been featured over the past two years. We will also meet new and equally inspiring men and women who are charting their own course. And I will share a few stories from my own experiences and what I am learning along the way.

I look forward to facing fears - and realizing new dreams - together in 2016.