For the past several weeks, women from several states across the country have been gathering with me every Thursday evening inside The Circle™.
And this past week, our Circle expanded even further.
We had women joining the conversation internationally.
I loved that.
Because here we were—women living in different places, with different experiences, different responsibilities, and different stories—and yet we found ourselves talking about something that all of us knew intimately.
Fear.
It was a reminder that some of the questions we carry don’t recognize state lines or international borders.
Recently, we changed the rhythm inside The Circle™. Instead of exploring a different topic every week, we now spend an entire month with one theme.
Week one, we Name It.
Week two, we Examine It.
Week three, we Reframe It.
And week four, we Move With It.
One theme. Four weeks. One intentional step forward.
This month, we’re talking about fear.
Not because fear is unique.
Because every one of us knows what it’s feels like to stand at the edge of something important and wonder if we’re really ready.
As we began our conversation this week, I noticed something.
When we hear the word fear, most of us immediately think about the big things. Public speaking. Starting over. Making a major decision.
But the longer we talked, the more we acknowledges that fear rarely introduces itself by name.
Sometimes it sounds like, “Maybe next year.”
Sometimes it says, “I just need a little more information.”
Sometimes it convinces us that we’re simply being practical or responsible.
Sometimes it hides behind perfectionism, procrastination, people-pleasing, or overthinking.
And because we don’t call it fear, we don’t realize how much influence it has over our decisions.
That was really the invitation this week.
Not to fix it.
Not to overcome it.
Not even to move beyond it.
Just to notice it.
Because something can’t begin to change until we’re willing to name it.
One of the questions I asked the women was this:
If fear had a voice, what would it be saying to you today?
I’ve been thinking about that question ever since.
Not because I think fear is always wrong.
Sometimes fear is wise.
Sometimes it protects us.
But sometimes it keeps us from having the conversation we need to have.
Applying for the opportunity we know we’re ready for.
Setting the boundary we’ve been avoiding.
Beginning the thing we’ve been talking ourselves out of for years.
The challenge isn’t deciding whether fear gets to speak.
It probably will.
The question is whether it gets the final vote.
I’d like to invite you into the conversation with us. Even if you can’t physically join The Circle™, you can still pause where you are and reflect on the same questions we’re sitting with together.
Take a few quiet minutes and ask yourself:
What has fear been calling “wisdom” in my life?
Where have I been waiting to feel ready?
What might change if I simply acknowledged that fear is present instead of pretending it isn’t?
You don’t have to answer those questions today.
You don’t have to make a life-changing decision this week.
For now, just notice.
Just name it.
Because awareness has a way of opening doors that force never could.
Next Thursday, inside The Circle™, we’ll move into Week Two as we begin examining where fear comes from and what it may actually be trying to protect.
If you’d like to join us, we’d love to have you.
The Circle™ is free, and we gather every Thursday at 7:00 PM ET.
Until next time,
Nicole
The Circle™ meets every Thursday at 7:00 PM ET.
Join The Circle™: https://www.thevisionandimpact.com/the-circle
Next Week: Where does fear come from, and what is it trying to protect?
