The Courage to Start: Overcoming Fear and Embracing New Beginnings!

hello there fearfully and wonderfully made human it's me Diana from through the valley therapy on the holistic counselor podcast I'm so glad you're tuning in for this solo episode today recently I've had quite a few conversations with friends and colleagues which inspired today's topic as we approached the last week of August I find myself reflecting on what it means to step out in faith to start something new and to push past the fears and excuses that

often hold us back whether you're an intern just starting out a therapist considering launching your own Blog podcast or private practice someone thinking about moving into coaching or even a listener who's never been to therapy but feels the nudge this episode is for you today I want to share a bit of my own Journey offer some practical encouragement and challenge you to take that next step but I also want to speak to your heart because if

you're anything like me you might be feeling some resistance maybe it's fear doubt or even just uncertainty about what where to start I've been there I'm still there sometimes and I want to help you navigate that Journey just as I've been navigating mine so grab a cup of tea with me or whatever helps you feel grounded and let's dive in let me take you back to last November I was in a place where many of you

might find yourselves thinking about change feeling that nudge in my spirit but not entirely sure what it would lead or where it would lead I just moved my practice online which was a big change in itself but there was something else staring at me something that said there's more for you to do I spent time in prayer seeking Stillness and what came up was this idea of starting a blog Liberation Lunas now I'm going to be

completely honest with you I didn't just start the blog to help with SEO or to get myself out there although those things were certainly part of it I also started learning about Ai and how it could help stream line my process making things easier and allow me to reach more people but the deeper reason I realize that I'm just one person and want and I want to help as many people as I can with over 53

years of life experience and two decades in the mental health field I've gathered a lot of wisdom so why not share it freely starting Liberation Lunas wasn't easy and it wasn't something I ever imagined I'd be doing I had doubts I wonder if anyone would read it if it would make a difference or if I was just setting myself up for failure but then I thought about the people I could help the people who might be

searching for the very things I've learned over the years and that pushed me forward then in February of this year I took another leap of faith and launched this podcast the inspiration my soul sister Sharon shout out to you Sharon who started her podcast this beautiful ugly still here now what with Dr Deb back in February 2022 watching Sharon's faith and courage as she walked through one of the darkest seasons of her life oh sorry guys

moved me deeply seeing how the Lord was using her as a vessel showed me the power of sharing your story and experiences no matter how difficult they may be I still recommend Sharon and Dr Deb's podcast to those who have lost loved ones because it's a source of comfort and healing and fun fact this beautiful ugly was the first podcast I was ever on after that experience I started wondering can I really do this what if

I fail I've started things in the past that I never finished often because I was afraid of failing or felt I didn't have the time energy or resources to see them through I've put myself out there before and sometimes it felt like no one cared or was INSP or was inspired by what what I did working with numerous artists I've seen the same fear come up again and again the fear of not being known heard or

understood but then again isn't that a part of life so I became hooked on learning how to blog and eventually how to podcast I absolutely love creating and both of these Outlets are incredibly therapeutic for me knowing that even one person might become better by reading or listening to the content I create makes all the difference failing is inevitable but it's not something to be feared we must go through the valleys in order to truly appreciate

the mountain tops by the end of December 2023 I took the leap of Faith to start my own blog and then in February of this year my podcast in the 53 years I've been here on this Earth I've learned that what we often label as failure is actually where growth happens the most we need what we call failure to learn and become mature in our journey failing is part of life if we succeeded at everything we

become egotistical entitled Souls placing ourselves on a pedestal as our own God remember that pride comes before the fall and it is the intention of our hearts that matters the most I'm sharing all this not to toot my own horn but to motivate you just to do it I know it's scary sometimes people will judge you hello trolls when I wrote my two poetry books wrath to riches Justice to gems and anima resusitation between 2020 and

2022 I felt so alone in the process wrath to riches Justice to gems was published in 2023 and anima resuscitation was just published a few months ago is it on is it on the New York Times best seller list no is that my goal no my goal is to leave a legacy of pointing to Christ in all I do and leave behind something that helps at least one Soul Many people didn't understand they judged and would

negative negative ly commment but what I've learned is that if the Lord has called you to it he will see you through it that is if your intentions are for the greater good and not just to stroke your own ego if moving forward towards something is about becoming rich and famous then you may want to analyze why why are those things so important to you is what you want to accomplish all about you you better check

yourself before you wreck yourself as the saying goes believe me I'm preaching ing to myself and that is why my faith is so important in every decision I make not because I am perfect but because I know how imperfect I am and I need daily guidance to step out of ego and be in the light but here's the truth we have two choices to live in faith or to live in fear it's up to you to

choose so let me ask you this what's holding you back what's that deep down what's that thing deep Town that's stopping you from taking that first step is it fear doubt or maybe it's something more practical like time or money well let's break this down together is it the time excuse you might be thinking I just don't have the time right now but here's the truth we make time for what we prioritize what if you dedicated

just 15 minutes a day to your new goal over time those small increments can lead to significant progress imagine what you could accomplish in a month six months or even a year if you just started with 15 minutes a day is it the money excuse and I get it nowadays it's pretty hard but you may be worried about the financial investment whether it's starting a business a new project or even going to therapy there's often a

cost involved but think about the cost of not pursuing it what a what opportunities are you missing out by staying in your comfort zone sometimes the biggest cost is the regret of never trying these are common barriers and they often stem from cognitive distortions those automatic negative thoughts that can keep us stuck but here's the good news you can challenge and change these thoughts using principles from cognitive behavioral therapy can you tell I'm a CBT therapist

all right let's try to apply some of those right now identify the thought start by pinpointing the exact thought that's holding you back maybe it's I don't have enough time or I can't afford this examine the evidence ask yourself is this thought really true for example if you believe you don't have time look at how you're spending your days is there a way to reallocate your time if it's about money consider the potential long-term benefits versus

the initial cost is there a way to start small and build up you know kind of like let's start stop Doom scrolling because sometimes we spend hours on Facebook and Instagram and Tik Tok and we could actually be using that time to try to reach our goals and are we going to Starbucks every day spending $5 doll on a latte maybe cut back a little and use that money for your goals of what you're trying to

accomplish anyway reframe the thought instead of saying I don't have time reframe it to I can find time if I make this a priority or if it's about money reframe it so instead of saying I can't afford this two investing in this now can lead to Greater rewards later these small shifts in thinking can open up new possibilities take action now that you've challenged your thought take a small actionable step May maybe it's setting aside 15

minutes a day to work on your goal or researching budget friendly ways to start your project or therapy the key is to move from thought to action don't get stuck in the planning phase take that first step no matter how small remember these thoughts and excuses are just that thoughts and excuses and you also need to remember feelings aren't facts and they EB and flow they don't have to control your actions you have the power to

change your mindset and take that first step so what's your next move what can you do today to challenge those thoughts and take a step forward if you're feeling that nudge to start something new consider this your sign I'm here to give you the motivation to begin and if you're a listener who needs a guide or a therapist I have a few spots open so let's set up that free 15minute consultation but that's only if you're

in Florida okay anyway if you're not quite ready for therapy but want to stay connected and receive ongoing support I encourage you to sign up for my blog Liberation Lunas every Monday I share insights tips and encouragement to help you navigate life's challenges the link to sign up will be in the show notes but I think I might have said that already oh well starting something new is always daunting but it's also incredibly rewarding don't let

fear or excuse don't let fear or excuses hold you back any longer take that step embrace the journey and trust that you are capable of more than you know thank you for joining me today I hope this episode has given you the encouragement and motivation you need to start something new whether it's a Blog a podcast a private practice a new business a new adventure or even just taking that first step into therapy whatever the Lord

is placing on your heart just do it you won't regret it don't forget to check the show notes for the links to this beautiful ugly where I made my first podcast appearance and sign up for my blog okay and remember if you're ready to take that first step or that next step I'm here to walk with you let's set that 15-minute consultation up and get started on your journey to growth and healing and have a wonderful

day don't forget trust in the Lord guard your heart and renew your mind bye and now for the disclaimer to make sure you understand that you are responsible for you the content provided on the holistic counselor podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice diagnosis or treatment always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding

a medical or mental condition never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast the views expressed on this podcast are my personal opinions and do not represent the views of any professional organizations with which I am Affiliated call your doctor 911 or 988 immediately if you have a medical emergency the holistic counselor podcast does not recommend or endorse any specific tests Physicians products procedures opinions or other information

that may be mentioned on the podcast Reliance on any information provided by the holistic counselor podcast guests appearing on the podcast at the invitation of the holistic counselor podcast or other listeners to the podcast is solely at your own risk confidentiality notice if you engage with a holistic counselor podcast by commenting or POS hosting and are a client Please be aware that you may be revealing information that could compromise your confidentiality please remember that disclosing your

identity or personal details can be linked to your clinical material as a therapist I am Bound by confidentiality and will not respond to any disclosures of this type on this podcast I am committed to upholding the ethics and confidentiality of the therapeutic relationship which extends to all forms of communication in accordance with the laws and professional guidelines that govern mental health professionals I want you to know that your privacy is of the utmost importance and you

are responsible for protecting it when interacting on this platform or any other public forum thank you