S5E39: A tip for getting that scary thing done

Full transcript:

Good morning, happy Thursday and welcome to the Language Confidence Project, the daily dose of language courage for people who love languages and those who really don’t, but have to learn one anyway. And today, I want to share a quick way to help you do the brave thing you really want to do. 

Because I know, I’m sure so many of us relate around here, how it feels to really want to do something, to know our why, to know exactly what we want to do, but just be too scared to actually do it. It might be entering yourself into a certain exam, it might be finally organising that language exchange where you’ll be leaving classroom world and talking to actual native speakers, it might be going live on a social media platform in your new language, anything at all that you really want to do, you’ve got everything ready, but you just can’t make that leap. I know that paralysing feeling so well, so well, and I know how much it drains your energy and after a while it can really chip away at your overall confidence and wellbeing when every day you tell yourself you’re going to do it, today’s the day, and every night you tell yourself there’s always tomorrow.

So today, I just want to share with you something that I’ve noticed. And that is,

It’s so much easier to be brave for other people.

It’s so much easier to show up for other people.

So if you’re feeling like there’s this huge wall between you right now, and getting started, ask yourself

How can doing this thing help someone else?

How many people can you help by signing up to that language exchange app and being a super friendly, supportive presence to people who are learning your native language? How will that exam help you to move to the next stage, that will get you nearer to a career where you can really make a difference or a visa that will bring joy to you and to your family? And how many people will your Instagram Live or your YouTube channel inspire? How many yous are out there, who need to see that it is possible to learn a language, who are really going to respond to your courage and your openness and who might be empowered to speak more themselves?  

And even if the social impact of the thing that you’re trying to do isn’t obvious, how can you bring in a way to help others? It doesn’t need to be direct. For example, if you need to do a big and scary thing, you can’t see how it could possibly be helpful to anyone else, can you be someone’s accountability partner today? Find someone else who’s doing a thing, doesn’t need to be the same thing, doesn’t even need to be big or scary, it might be a big and very boring thing that they aren’t afraid of, they just hate it and have to get through it, just a thing that they’d really appreciate some support or encouragement on, and can you be that support? You do your thing, and they do their thing, and you check in with each other as you go or come together at the end.

Whatever it is that you’re shying away from, just know that I get it, and as uncomfortable as it feels now, it won’t be this scary forever. Be brave today, go on, and you never know what impact that might have for you, or for the world. Have a wonderful day, and I will see you tomorrow.