What Holds Us Back

For the past couple of years, I have been steadily working towards a more confident me, and it has been one of the most challenging ventures of my life. Last night, I was moved beyond the trap of these thoughts and reminded that my home is where my passion lives and breathes in all of its glory. I let go and for the moment had no use for those doubts that otherwise never leave the back of my mind. All I wanted to do was to use my voice and shout out all that I hold inside no matter how it was received. I feel closer to living that way all the time today, and as I lean over the edge, I’m not half as terrified as I was even a month ago to let myself fall. This week, I want to work on choosing to trust rather than doubt myself. Yes, Hanson were the catalysts for this, and I can talk about them this Monday because it is Hanson Day after all.

There is something unique in the fact that I can always turn to one band to get me through anything, that for 16 years they have somehow managed to write songs that my inner triumphs and struggles. They don’t let me hide for too long, because they not only inspire greatness in me, but fuel the fire in me to use it. The songs I heard last night from their upcoming album ‘Anthem,’ and members EP ‘The Sound of Light,’ have broken new ground, however. The lyrics are so much of what I have needed to hear, that I feel as though Hanson are speaking to me, encouraging me to live and chase after my dreams and stop hiding. I’m still afraid of failure, of not being good enough, which I know is a natural state of the human condition. But what last night showed me is that the time has come to set myself free, to just suck it up and take that risk that my gifts might never be recognized. I don’t know the how yet, but I know that I have to push the boundaries of my strength and let the passion take over. For the reminder of the week, I encourage you to try not to give in to doubt. Recognize it when it arises, then let it go and trust what the spark inside inspires you to do. Just.let.go. Trust that personal truth you’ve always known.