“Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to take action in spite of it.”
Sharing my journey with an OSTOMY scares me every day; fear of being shamed or ridiculed for being different.
I share despite this because when I knew this was to be my path, I had two choices: 1) I could crawl into a hole and die or 2) I could live my best life with my time left.
I decided to cultivate a courageous habit by taking small steps outside of my comfort zone regularly.
First I started taking about ostomy life. I began meeting others who needed the info I had to share to see that life can be amazing despite operating different.
Then I started to talk with groups of others just like me who told themselves that they were limited because of an ostomy.
Each time, I faced my fear by taking action, I built resilience and developed even more courage to face bigger challenges.
And this can be true for any of us who face fear, sometimes downright crippling and debilitating fear.
Gradually expanding your comfort zone will help you overcome fear and embrace bravery more readily.
Remember, overcoming fear takes time. It requires patience, persistence, and self-compassion. Celebrate your progress along the way. I’m ROOTING for you!
