When Your Big Dream Scares You
This is some advice I got when I wanted to start The Surf Shack Winnipeg - but felt slightly terrified. What if it all went wrong? I’m not that girl. I have never done anything like this. What if no one comes? What if it flops?
If you are feeling both excited and scared about a big dream or idea that lights you up - that’s the sweet spot. It means you’re right at the edge of something brave, something meaningful. You’re not just starting a business (or whatever it is you are doing) — you’re stepping into the next version of you. The woman who does that big thing you are thinking up is already you. You’re just meeting her in real life now.
Here’s how to step into her — even when it scares the crap out of you:
1. Name the Fear, Then Flip It
Fear says:
“What if no one shows up? What if I’m not taken seriously? What if I fail?”
Your Wild Self says:
“What if this works? What if it lights me up and inspires others too? What if it leads to something even bigger than I can see now?”
When the fear shows up (and it will), greet it like an old friend.
Say: “Ah yes, you’re here again — that means I’m growing.”
2. Shift from “Who Am I to...” → “Why NOT Me?”
The woman who does your big idea:
Feels deeply
Dreams wildly
Shows up — imperfectly, but authentically
She doesn’t wait until she’s ready.
She becomes ready by doing.
You don’t need to fake confidence — you just need courage for 20 seconds at a time.
Enough to post. Enough to show up. Enough to take the next small step.
3. Act As If (Until It’s Just Who You Are)
This is the fun part.
Start asking:
What would the woman who does my big idea do today?
Would she post the idea?
Would she wear the beachy bracelet?
Would she reach out to a maker’s market or ask a friend about hosting a mini event?
Small actions. Aligned decisions. Daily identity-building.
4. Remember: This Isn’t About Being “Big” — It’s About Being Real
You don’t need thousands of followers or a fancy shop to start.
You just need that one woman who reads your post and says: “Omg, me too.”
That’s the ripple.
That’s the magic.
That’s the Prairie to Pacific spirit. ☀️
5. Affirmation to Ground You
“I don’t need to be fearless to begin.
I just need to be faithful to my dream.”
Say it. Write it. Breathe it in.
You’ve got this. Your big dream, goal or idea is already real — it lives in you.
And every small step you take brings it more and more into the world.