Facing Fear as a Gateway to Purpose and Possibility

04/16/15 • 5 min

2 Listeners

Good Life Project

"Will you step into purpose and connection and expression, or leave them for dead?"

There's nothing quite like getting up on stage in front of a crowd to share something creative you made.

It's terrifying for most (if not all) of us.

But sometimes we feel compelled to do it because we know that facing THAT fear will open the door to purpose and potential.

On today's GLP Riff episode, I share the story of one of our GLP Immersion members, Barry Solway, how he literally and figuratively faced his fear of being a writer on stage at Camp GLP last year. And how the incredible GLP community rallied around him to help turn his poem into a published illustrated children's book in a matter of weeks.

This story is about more than facing fears however. It's about making the choice to either stay in your comfort zone, locked down by self-imposed stories, or to step outside of that and shine the light onto what you are capable of.

Here's an excerpt from the blog post where I tell Barry's story:

I love Barry’s story.

Not just because he’s part of our GLP family. Not just because he’s bringing a wonderful story into the world and stepping into his craft as a writer.

But because his journey has been a beautiful example of what can happen when you commit to a process of discovery and openness and vulnerability. When you allow all the assumptions about what you should be to fall away and step into what you are. When you’re willing to share your voice with the world, hold yourself out to be on the one hand, judged, but on the other, embraced and lifted.

If you'd like to read this full story, it's written on Jonathan's blog at http://www.jonathanfields.com/courting-monster/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Will you step into purpose and connection and expression, or leave them for dead?"

There's nothing quite like getting up on stage in front of a crowd to share something creative you made.

It's terrifying for most (if not all) of us.

But sometimes we feel compelled to do it because we know that facing THAT fear will open the door to purpose and potential.

Here's an excerpt from the blog post where I tell Barry's story:

I love Barry’s story.

Not just because he’s part of our GLP family. Not just because he’s bringing a wonderful story into the world and stepping into his craft as a writer.

If you'd like to read this full story, it's written on Jonathan's blog at http://www.jonathanfields.com/courting-monster/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Overcoming Rejection: 100-Day Experiment That Changed Everything

"Creativity [happens] not necessarily because we have no limits, but because we have found ways to solve problems within limits."

Growing up in China, Jia Jiang dreamed of coming to the United States to make his mark as an entrepreneur. But his first attempt found him living with criminals in small-town Louisiana as an exchange student.

Jia didn't give up, though. He found a new family who cared, then devoted everything he had to build his career. Until he came face to face with a crippling fear of rejection.

If you're human, you're probably not all that different. To overcome this fear, Jia mounted a stunning and very public 100-day rejection adventure that not only "cured" his fear, but also turned him into a viral video phenomenon, speaking and author of the new book, Rejection Proof.

This story is both inspiring and vulnerable as Jia Jiang takes us behind the scenes of what it looks like to stare rejection down.

Follow Jia:

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Next Episode

Fueling Vibrant Health the Plantpower Way with Julie Piatt

"One of the biggest struggles we deal with as parents is making decisions for our children that feel safe for US."

I have been interested in getting to know today's guest for months, ever since I interviewed her husband Rich Roll for Good Life Project a couple of years ago. If you haven't watched that interview, I definitely recommend it for an amazing story of transformation and re-birth.

The conversation in today's episode is equally inspiring and fascinating as I talk with Julie Piatt, the plant-based chef, healer, wife, mother, and artist who has created a remarkable health movement with her husband and co-authored the fantastic new book - The Plantpower Way.

One of the things I loved about Julie, her plant-based philosophy and book, is that she defies all stereotypes, keeps it beautifully real and absolutely accessible and inclusive. Put another way, there are no "shoulds," only invitations to explore. In this wide-ranging conversation, we delve into her childhood in Alaska being raised on game meat and salmon, her journey through raising 4 children with an ultra-endurance, plant-powered athlete husband, and her extraordinary story of healing an "un-healable" cyst in her neck by changing what she ate. We also take an unexpected, yet eye-opening look into the world of homeschooling, and the power of supporting children in finding their own paths, and then moves into the vibrant plant-based lifestyle Julie and Rich have created both in their home and in the world.

No matter what your ideas about food are, this conversation will open your eyes to think in ways I'd venture you haven't before.

Follow Julie:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

"You have to be the healer of your life."

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