Jump, Tiffany, Jump! Overcoming fear and self-doubt
2025-08-01 04:45
I am six years old and sitting on the top of my neighbor’s swing set. Paralyzed with fear I am stuck. Jump, Tiffany, Jump! My friend’s dad has to get me down.
I am 10 years old and standing on top of the high dive. My tiny body shivers from the cold and fear. My mom stands at the edge of the pool urging me, “Jump, Tiffany,jump!” I will not jump.
I am 14 and sitting on top of a shed we are building in shop class. All the other kids jump down when the bell rings. I remain there, paralyzed again in fear. "Jump, Tiffany, Jump." Eventually my teacher finds me there and helps me down. I am late to my next class.
I am an adult strapped into a harness on a zip line. A line of eager 10 year olds wait their turn behind me. I stand paralyzed once again. “Jump Tiffany Jump!” The familiar words ring in my ears. I try to convince myself that I am safe, but eventually step aside to let the kids take their turn. You would have had to push me. I could not make myself jump.
It’s a theme in my life. Climbing to the top with all the confidence in the world but then terrified, I sit paralyzed and will not jump! It is not just in this physical and literal sense that I have experienced this kind of paralysis and fear. In fact, it is a metaphor for so many other risks I just will not take. It’s frustrating! And I know I am not alone in this.
Fear has one function, self-protection! Let me be clear, there are times that our nervous system is warning us of true danger and we should definitely heed its warning. But so often, we experience fear when there is no actual danger. So often our fear is simply a collection of limiting beliefs and self doubt hardwired into our subconscious mind and keeping us stuck.
One word resonates …. COURAGE! Or my lack of it, I suppose. "If you only had more courage what would you do?" my wise friend asks me.
What is courage? I experienced a meditation recently that made me really think about this word.
Most of us probably think of courage as the opposite of fear. We know people who seem to have no fear as they go through life taking risks. We think of them as courageous or even thrill seekers; while the rest of us avoid stepping out of our comfort zone at all costs.
What if Courage is not the opposite of fear but rather… having fear and doing it anyway?
What if Courage is letting fear ride along, almost as if we could turn down the dial on its intensity in order to push through.
What if we didn’t have to make that nagging feeling of anxiety “go away” in order to jump; but rather could learn to let it just be with us and jump anyway?
In my office, I have a quote posted that reads, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” It is a reminder to myself as much as it is for my clients to do that thing that we always dream of!
Where is fear limiting you in your life? What risk would you take if you could only overcome the voice of fear?
As a psychotherapist, I have spent a lifetime teaching people how to rewire their fear beliefs. I have learned the power of first regulating our nervous system to establish a sense of safety in our physical body. And then, creating a sense of empowerment through movement, visualization and affirmations to rewire our subconscious beliefs that limit us. It is our practices that will make the difference. This I know for sure.
I have two practices to share with you if you are feeling stuck and trying to overcome fear or self doubt in your life right now. Both use the imagery of a backpack but in completely different and powerful ways.
I recently recorded a meditation that is intended to rewire your limiting beliefs and embody your highest most authentic self. Using the imagery of carrying your fear and limiting beliefs in a backpack up a mountain, you will releasing them one by one, reminding yourself at a very deep level that you are safe. As you reach the top of the mountain you will meet your most authentic self, that part of yourself who is already living your dream life. Through the release of your own limiting beliefs and the embodiment of this version of yourself, you can cultivate the courage to overcome whatever is holding you back. It is an imagery and experience that I hope you will love. When I began this newsletter it was my intention to share this meditation. (Click here: https://insig.ht/AFDD7JQBsVb?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=live_stream_share )
While writing this newsletter, I experienced a different, almost opposite imagery of fear in a backpack. It was so inspiring that I just have to share it as well!. In this meditation, Saskia Lightstar guides us to carry the backpack of fears on our journey without emptying it!
This really made me stop and think! What if we don’t always have to release or overcome the fear first. What if we are meant to learn to let fear ride along and jump anyway?! What if it is through courage that we begin to truly live the life of our dreams!
Enjoy this courage meditation by Saskia Lighthstar. (Click here: https://insig.ht/9lSQvGWBsVb?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=content)
I sit on my meditation pillow deep in meditation. I am walking down a long path and come to a warmly lit cabin. Inside a group of people sit waiting for me to guide them...
Jump, Tiffany, Jump! I take a deep breath in. Exhale completely and finally at long last, I jump!