Shit.  Only one more week.

A single set of seven days remain until I have to do it.

Today I’m going to enjoy Christmas with family and distract myself with delicious food and smiling, sugar fueled, slightly out of control children.  But in the back of my mind I know.

In one week I have to climb up that damn ladder again to take down the Christmas lights.

I’m not dreading it because I’ll miss the lights being up - though I will.

I’m not dreading it because it’s a pain in the ass - though it is.

I’m dreading it because I’m scared of ladders.

I’m a chickenshit.

Every year I reluctantly retrieve the ladder from the garage and cautiously clamber to the top while shaking, sweating, and swearing.  That’s how I spread Holiday Cheer!

This year, while I was putting the lights up my neighbor came over to t̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶k̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶t̶r̶a̶c̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶w̶i̶f̶e̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶j̶o̶b̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶o̶l̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶l̶a̶d̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶k̶e̶e̶p̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶a̶l̶i̶v̶e̶ chat with Jess.

She stands on the lawn, inspecting my work while holding up her hand to shade her eyes from the autumn sun.  She tells me her favorite part is the side of the house where I exit the top of the ladder, climbing onto the roof.

I tell her that, coincidentally, it’s my least favorite part because (as I mentioned) I’m a total chickenshit and the only thing worse than climbing a ladder is getting off and on from the top.

And then I had to pause.  I realized why I’ve been risking m̶y̶ ̶l̶i̶f̶e̶ a sprained ankle by going up on the roof to put up lights instead of hiring someone to do it.

I do it because it scares me.  It’s not the feeling of being scared I enjoy, but the feeling of knowing that something scares me, and doing it anyway.

It’s the feeling of accomplishment.  Of knowing that I did something that I didn’t want to do.  Overcoming the fear.  Victory over myself (and gravity in this case).

What do you want to do, but don’t attempt because you’re scared?

Do you want to lose weight, but don’t really try because you’re afraid to fail?  By only putting forth moderate effort, it’s less scary because you don’t expect success.

Do you want to take your business to the next level, but hold back and procrastinate on the tasks that make the biggest difference?

Next time you feel your stomach churning, pay close attention.  DON’T HIDE from that feeling.  Lean into it.

Are you actually scared, or are you excited about the opportunity?

And whichever the answer is - are you going to let it hold you back?

Use that feeling as motivation.  Think of how amazing it’s going to feel when you overcome your fears!

And make sure your wife is paying attention while holding the ladder. Those things are fucking dangerous.

Be great today - Merry Christmas!

Danny Lehr

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