#BeSureSundays- The Worst Is....No

How many times have you wanted to ask a question but fear of rejection stopped you? ....(Hopefully not a lot.) How many times have you heard the word, "No"? ....(Wow all those times, and look at that you are still alive!) Don't let rejection kill you! Yes it might hurt, cause some tears, and spark depression, but don't let it strip away your sparkle. You all have no idea how many times a day I have to repeat the "Don't Die Afraid" motto internally. Every time I think there will be a negative outcome to something, I have to remind myself, "Go for it, what the hek are you afraid of? You're not living fearlessly! Snap out of it!"

These negatives thoughts usually materialize in the face of competition....Mental competition that is, my mind distorts reality sometimes to make everything into a competition. My brain works in odd ways, so let me break it down for you. About a month ago I saw an Instagram post calling for DC Bloggers to attend the Ultimate Brown Beauty Retreat. Initially, I thought, "Yay, that's me!....But what if they are looking for someone with a larger audience? I'm convinced Google Analytics overestimates my numbers...What if they want a media kit?....I haven't been writing frequently enough this month....They aren't looking for small bloggers like me, I'm not going to email them. I'll just buy a general ticket." 

Do you see how problematic thinking like that can be? I made assumptions about why I wasn't worthy. What is the worst that could have happened? I e-mail them and they say, "No sorry, you don't fit into the demographic we are looking for." Then I would have just bought a regular ticket and called it a day, it wouldn't have been the end of the world.

After reminding myself to live fearlessly, I sent the e-mail and was overjoyed when I received a response inviting me to be one of the guest bloggers! Well, look at that! If I would have let all my unjustifiable concerns prevent me from reaching out, I would have missed an amazing opportunity. What I learned from this experience is that you'll never know what the response is until you ask the question.

Have you found yourself in a similar situation lately? How do you handle someone saying, "No"?

#BeSureSundays- Blessings from Above

We all know the reason I started Don't Die Afraid was to teach myself how to be comfortable with not having the ability to control every aspect of my life, especially my career. Now a year has passed and I've been pretty successful at that. I landed my current job by walking into an office to inquire more information about their services because I was genuinely curious. Elaine, the woman I met saw my potential and that I would be a great fit for her team. At first there were no positions available  but she advocated for me anyway, in hopes that her office would be able to use me even if it was just for volunteer work. About two weeks later, a position magically opened and the director offered it to little ol' me! It was literally like the position fell into my lap because I got it based off my curiosity for life.

When I started graduate school I was passively looking for jobs because I didn't know if I could handle working and going to school. I went in with the mindset that I would be fine even if I didn't find job because I had a nice stash of money saved.

When I say I love my job, that is an understatement! My job is the helping office on campus because we work hard to make sure students are supported in all aspects of wellness during their college experience. We address the most hard hitting issues: substance abuse, interpersonal violence, sexual health, and nutrition.

The past year working for that office has been an amazing experience and has catapulted me into many other leadership opportunities. I'm so grateful for every minute I spent there. However, since the year is over and budget cuts are the devil, my time with them is over. Bummer, I know! It is unsettling not having a job solidified for September, but I was in this position last year and everything worked out. Everything will be alright....right? When I found out, I cried and briefly thought my world was ending. Then, I remembered three things: my motto (Don't Die Afraid), accept change, and keep my head up. So if you are going through something that has your head down, don't keep it there for too long because you might miss the blessings coming from above. I can't see what my future holds for September but I'm going to go forth fearlessly (the only way).

Have you had any unforeseen recent changes in your career? Can you hook a sister up with a job or pain internship in public health for the summer? (Shoot, I had to ask haha)

#BeSureSundays- Your Words Matter

I'm sitting on the floor of Mr. Fearless' dining room exhausted from my blogger adventure filled weekend instead of writing a paper due in the day after tomorrow. Are my priorities backwards? Probably, but there is only one week left in the semester and I have neglected my business because of my dedication to my studies, so I believe it is time to show Don't Die Afraid some desperately needed love. This weekend I attended Blogger Week hosted by Black Bloggers Connect and the first Brown Girl Bloggers meetup hosted by Candice VanWye. There will be a full recap of the event up this week on DDA but the most important gem was, "Your words matter."

Although this advice was shared with bloggers, it is applicable to all of our lives regardless of occupation. We all have words to share- some choose to share them through blogging, YouTube, personal interaction, or social media. No matter what your platform is, we all have something to say. Sometimes I catch myself thinking negatively about my blog- asking myself, "Are people reading this? Am I helping anyone or is this a waste of my time?" Hearing this quote at the conference reminded me that I am a storyteller and when I put all my energy into something, I am damn good at it.

Stop second guessing yourself and recognize how important your words are. You will never know the impact of them until you share them. Master how to deliver those words and you will be golden!

If you are new to the Fearless Family, read what inspired #BeSureSundays. Do you ever feel like your words don't matter or they are falling upon deaf ears (or blind eyes depending on your platform)? What are some inspirational quotes you heard this week that are going to keep you motivated for the week?

#BeSureSundays-Finish Line

This is my last week of classes for the semester! Can I get an AMEN? If you are a student, you know the struggle. As the semester concludes, students are so excited to get the chance to relax. However, the summer can serve as a relief for some and stress for others. Those who are returning next fall, can use the summer to recharge- whereas graduates are pressured to have a job confirmed or figure out what their next move is. Either way, it feels like a finish line.

Over the past couple of months I've been telling myself to Keep Pushing to get to this finish line. Once finals are over, I will take a deep sigh of relief and be able to focus more of my talents here on Don't Die Afraid. However, I saw this quote repeatedly and thought maybe it was a productive mindset to have. If we train ourselves to believe that there is no finish line, then it teaches us how to increase our endurance. However, does it also discourage us from feeling like we have reached success?

The whole point of #BeSureSundays is to encourage ourselves to make it through the week. I feel this quote does that in an indirect way.

 What do you think about the quote? I'm still not completely sold, but maybe it is just the way I am interpreting it. What does it mean to you?