Joy and Fear: The Two Forces That Can Transform Your Life
Two Truths I’ve Had to Learn
What if the very things you’re avoiding are the keys to unlocking the life you deeply desire?
That was the question I had to wrestle with in my own personal and professional journey. Whether I was a new teacher in my twenties, a doctoral student researching my way to the next academic milestone, a professor navigating the demands of higher education, or now as an entrepreneur, speaker, and writer building a life of purpose—I’ve realized two truths again and again:
I have to face my fears and limiting beliefs to move forward.
I have to be intentional about creating joy in my everyday life—or I’ll miss it entirely.
And the real magic? These two forces—joy and fear—are not opposites. They are deeply connected. Together, they shape our mindset, fuel our momentum, and influence how present we are in our own lives.
Why We Must Face Both
Fear shows up whenever we step outside our comfort zone. That voice in your head that says, “Who do you think you are?” or “What if this doesn’t work?” I know it well.
It’s the same voice that tried to hold me back when I considered leaving my professor job, launching my personal brand and website, creating my coaching program, speaking to larger audiences, and writing my first Journal entries.
But here’s what I’ve learned: fear doesn’t go away. Instead, it becomes part of the process. You move forward with it, not without it.
Joy, on the other hand, is not just something we stumble upon. It must be created, cultivated, and practiced.
For years, I woke up dreading my day, running on the hustle train, feeling unfulfilled despite having all the “right” things: a great job, a loving family, professional accomplishments.
I felt gratitude, yes—but I also felt misaligned. I wanted more joy. More peace. More presence.
The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything
When I stopped avoiding discomfort and started walking through fear with intention, something powerful happened. I made space for joy.
It didn’t happen all at once. I had to work at it. I had to define what joy looked like for me, then design my days to include more of it.
I had to retrain my brain to stop defaulting to stress and negative self-talk, and instead, I had to seek out small moments of magic: a walk outside, journaling or reading over morning coffee, uninterrupted time with my kids.
At the same time, I had to recognize fear when it showed up—and see it not as a stop sign, but as a signal. A signal that I was growing. A sign that I was about to enter the next phase of development.
Overcoming fear and choosing joy is a cycle. One fuels the other.
A Personal Invitation
If you’ve been feeling stuck, burned out, overwhelmed, or if you know there’s something more calling to you but you don’t know how to get there, please know you are not alone and there is a way forward.
I’ve created multiple spaces for you to grow on your own time and on your own terms:
My “Guided Experience” for my Empowered Ascent Toolkit is a place where you can find guided support as you work through creating more joy and identifying fears that may be holding you back. You can sign-up here and work through my guided videos at your own pace.
My Empowered Ascent Group Program is launching again this fall. This Group Coaching experience is specifically for women who want to work on themselves personally and/or professionally. You can learn more about my signature program by clicking here and join the waitlist to be the first to hear more details when the doors open.
My Journals—l ike this one on my website—are also a free resource for you as you determine what support you need to more forward on improving your life. There’s Journal posts on time management, healthy habits, my “Smart Step Strategy,” how to find more joy, and the list goes on. I write about relevant topics that have been important to my personal and professional growth, and I know they will be relevant to your journey, too.
As always, I’m here cheering you on! Keep doing the work to find whatever it is you’re looking for.
