BY JENN NOCERA

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

COMMENTARY

"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear;

knowing what must be done does away with fear."  - Rosa Parks

This may sound strange, but it can be TERRIFYING to believe in yourself. Unfortunately, most of us experience serious self-doubt which can sometimes be paralyzing.

Recently, someone complimented me on my writing style.  Boy, did this strike a chord with me! I was, instantly, reminded of how scared I was to pursue my graduate work. Why? Because I was afraid to write!

In retrospect, it was an irrational fear. One of my lifelong dreams has been to be an author, and I positively LOVE to write ... now, that is. Back then, my fear of writing for graduate school caused me to lose time. I delayed the application process for a while. But, thankfully, I decided to take the leap of faith and invest in myself.

I started small by taking one course to get my feet wet. It was scary and exhilarating all at once! By enrolling in graduate school, I was no longer just giving lip-service to my desire to get my degrees. I was going for it! I was filled with self-doubt ("Can I do this? Am I good enough? What if I can't handle the assignments?") AND determination ("I am doing this. Other people have done this - why not me? I'll figure it out.")

Yes, I had anxiety. But, I pushed through it and it was wonderful. Plus, I continue to learn and evolve - a work-in-progress! How empowering!

So, remember:

* You are, probably, much stronger than you give yourself credit for.

* It is better to fail at something than to never attempt it at all. How else will you ever know how it will turn out?

* You are bigger than any fear or excuse that is getting in the way.

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Jenn Nocera: Formula For Excellence - Life & Wellness Coaching based out of Red Bank, N.J.

Jenn's credentials: Master of Arts - Behavioral Science/Psychology; Post-master's - Marriage and Family Therapy; Certified Life Strategies Coach; Certified Personal Fitness Trainer.  You will achieve your goals faster with a strong support system.

http://www.FormulaForExcellence.com/; http://FormulaForExcellence.blogspot.com; Jenn A. Nocera on Facebook