Being strong isn’t about strength – it isn’t about powering through the hard parts of being human, hoping to skip past them before anyone notices or suspects anything. Being strong is about being brave enough to be vulnerable.

I spent a lot of time thinking about what my fears have prevented me from doing. The fun times I’ve passed up on because I was too concerned about what I feared people thought, the talents I’ve never uncovered because I didn’t give them time to develop, the opportunities I’ve missed out on to learn, develop and grow.

Inner critics come from the part of our brain designed to keep us safe. So of course it makes sense that when we make major changes, they get a little antsy. Nothing says danger like a freefall into the unknown.