Happy #SeekTheJoy Tuesday!

This week is a SOLO episode and I'm chatting all about adulting, dreams and fears.

If you're anything like me, you have big dreams and things that you want to do, ambitions and goals and at the same time, there's this roar of fear and doubt that comes out when you least expect it.

There are some days where I wake up and I'm like, "I got this! I can do this!" . . . and then there are days where I wake up and it's like . . . Sydney, there is no way that you can do this. Are you kidding? You don't have x, y or z quality, there's already a ton of people out there doing what it is that you want to do. Sound familiar?

Whatever the monologue is that's playing in your head - is BS. Let's call it what it is, bullshit. I'm learning that there's a difference between a reality check and a BS excuse that we give ourselves that allow us to stay in fear.

So, I have to ask . . .

Where are you making excuses for yourself in your life?

Where are you allowing fear to dominate?

Where is it time to call BS and knock it off?

I'm learning that it's important for me to acknowledge my fear, to see it, to say hi (and bye) to it, and then push past it and do it anyway.

It's about seeing and hearing the doubt, acknowledging it, saying hello and goodbye to it, and then push past it and do it anyway.

We only have one opportunity in this lifetime to do what we want to do, to be exactly who we want to be, and go after it.

But it's hard to go after what you want, when you're afraid of failure or rejection. For me, I've been struggling between wanting to do something and feeling scared shitless because I don't know how it's going to go. I'm learning that it's important to allow myself to dream, and to dream big, and not be afraid of how it'll go. The truth is, for years I didn't allow myself to dream out of fear of disappointment. It was easier to not allow myself to dream than to be met with rejection or disappointment.

Here's the thing - now, for the first time in my life, I'm allowing myself to dream - but then I'm impatient with the result. I'm impatient with how something is received. I'm impatient with how long something is taking. Which, if you think about it, is such BS because I really should be proud of myself for putting myself out there, for doing something new or different, for stepping outside of my comfort zone, for using my authentic voice, etc.

Rather than being impatient with the outcome, or how it is or isn't going, whatever it is that we're doing we should be celebrating it. We should be celebrating the steps we've taken along the way to get there. We should be celebrating the fact that we took a risk rather than focusing on how something is received or the outcome because how something is received by someone else is none of our business. The only thing that's our business is how we choose to operate in the world. How we choose to speak to ourselves, how we choose to speak to others, our integrity, the pride in the work we’re doing, what we choose to do every day to be a conscious human being on this planet to make decisions that better our lives and the lives of others, that's our business. That's what's important.

So, dream - and dream big, remain patient with yourself, and stay grounded in the fact that things take time. There are going to be highs and lows, but no matter what comes your way, allow yourself to dream anyway. 💛

Did you hear? We launched #SeekTheJoy merch! (cue internal screaming!!!) Yup, Seek The Joy bracelets are here and I am SO EXCITED. Check them out here - I can't wait to see you guys rockin your bracelet!

Until next week, ✨ #SeekTheJoy - hit SUBSCRIBE - and it would mean so much if you could give the podcast a rating and/or review on iTunes ✨💛🎧

Ratings and reviews help Seek The Joy get seen by new people, and I'm so grateful to each and every one of you who has rated the podcast!

If you rate/review the podcast on iTunes make sure to e-mail us a screenshot of your review to sydney@seekthejoypodcast.com and as a token of my appreciation and gratitude for your love and support, I'll send you my NEW #SeekTheJoy Guide for Infusing More Joy into Your Life document! I've created this guide based on what I've learned from these #SeekTheJoy conversations. Along with this guide, you'll also receive two limited edition Seek The Joy Podcast stickers which I will mail out to you!

The eighth episode in our series, The Power of Storytelling, airs on September 18th! We want you to be part of it! To learn more and to submit your story, visit the Share Your Story section of our website. Fill out our interest form - and we'll get back to you ASAP.

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Ep. 44 Hey Dreamer, Where Ya Been?