…feels exactly like jumping off a cliff.

In my mind, I picture myself running toward the cliff’s edge and swan diving right off. Now I’m not afraid of heights but cliff-jumping has never been part of my regular routine.

My regular routine goes a little something like this:

Step 1. Get excited about something and say “I’m going to do this!”

Step 2. Mentally freak out and talk myself back out of whatever I wanted to do.

I run right up to the edge of the cliff only to dig my heels in at the last second and hover on the edge. I’ve missed several opportunities doing this, and I’ve learned a valuable lesson: do it or you will regret it.

When I first realized I wanted to start my own business, I felt a sense of relief. I know that sounds like the biggest cliché ever, but I was really struggling to figure out what I wanted to do. Looking back, I was fighting the idea that I really could go my own way. Accepting that this was what I really want to do made me feel so much better.

Then I got excited. (Cue me running toward the cliff’s edge.) I get to be my own boss! I can pick whatever color scheme I want for my logo! (Yes, even yellow! I love yellow!)

…And then the little doubts crept in.

Can I really do this?

What if I fail?

What if people don’t accept my hourly rates or I don’t have any clients and I’m totally poor?

What if I’m not good at this?

So many doubts. My poor brain. Realizing that everyone has these doubts helped calm my fears and kept me from putting on the brakes. But more than anything, realizing that I’ll never fly if I don’t jump has been the biggest motivator of all.

(And also my friends and family, who have listened to me and looked at countless logo designs and given me referrals and generally been awesome.)

Now I’m excited to jump. Maybe I’ll even cannon-ball into the water. Who knows?

(How perfect is this image? I was searching Pinterest for something that summarized how I feel and this is it!)