Fear – Page 4 – Melissa Schlies

What Holds Us Back: The Fear of Criticism

"What will people think?” Sometimes, what is holding us back is as simple as these four little words. Seconded only by “What will people say?” The power that these two small questions have is incalculable. Because, no matter where we were born, what our family was like, or where we went to school, we all know the sting of criticism. And it is our natural response to try to avoid the pain. Only what happens when the thing you know you’re meant to do, the thing you should do, or the thing you can’t stop dreaming about—could put you in [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-04-18T14:50:53+00:00April 22nd, 2019|Categories: Anxiety, Calling, Change, Courage, Failure, Fear, Freedom, Hope, Making Decisions, perseverance, Rejection, Success, Uncategorized|4 Comments

What Holds Us Back: Knowing Too Much

A few months after I moved to Pennsylvania, I was in a car accident. In a rush to answer a call, an EMT vehicle driving in front of me, unexpectedly backed up over the hood of my car. It had missed the street it was supposed to take. And, even though I hadn’t been following it too closely, and had braked when the driver stopped, he hit me. My car was a mess. I was injured. I was in a new state, and I didn’t have a clue where to send my car to get fixed, or who to ask [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-04-03T20:30:50+00:00April 15th, 2019|Categories: Fear, Freedom, perseverance, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Five Ways I Manage Anxiety

In celebration of her fortieth birthday, last month author Sarah Bessey shared forty important things she’s learned in her life. One thing she said that struck me was this: “Being a responsible adult is the most underrated form of self-care.” Then she went on to explain by listing all the “boring” tasks of adulting like going to bed at a decent time, exercising, keeping a budget, etc. Sometimes, the greatest thing we can do for ourselves is to live a more disciplined and routine life. To commit to practices that don’t necessarily bring us the most joy, but in the big [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-04-11T13:27:54+00:00April 11th, 2019|Categories: Anxiety, Courage, Fear, Food, Habit Making, Health, Hope, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Routines, Uncategorized|Comments Off

What Holds Us Back: Anxiety

For me, it feels like someone has reached in and grabbed my heart. I can’t breath very well, and panic fills my insides. From what I’ve heard, for others, their palms get sweaty, their mind races, they even start shaking. All their worries spill over from their emotions into their physical body. There’s little control and it takes a lot to calm down. Anxiety For many of us it is a constant hum in our day to day lives. It’s stress on caffeine. Though some of us have found a way to bring it down to a decaf level—it’s still [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-04-03T19:37:48+00:00April 8th, 2019|Categories: Anxiety, Courage, Fear, Hope, Mental Health, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Love Learn Lead April 4, 2019

If January is the time for new resolutions, April is the month to pick them up again, and take action. Spring is here. The weather is better. The darkness of winter is over. And though there may be April showers, there is no time like the present to work toward those goals that won’t leave you alone. You know, those goals that slip into your thoughts when you’re driving in your car. The ones that give you a tinge of shame when something in a conversation reminds you of how far you have to go to accomplish them. Or the [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-03-25T20:16:17+00:00April 4th, 2019|Categories: Change, Courage, Fear, Hope, Lead, Leadership, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, perseverance, Success, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Never Enough Time

One Sunday morning recently, I poured myself a cup of my new decaf Italian Espresso Roast from Dean’s Beans. Then, donning my Red Sox hoodie and yoga pants, I made my way to the big chair that sits in the corner of our living room. I picked up one of my favorite books that I haven’t read in years and prepared to settle in for some much desired chill time. Only, I couldn’t focus. The list of the things I could or should be doing started growing in my brain. After being sick for a good chunk of January, I felt [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-02-16T14:35:13+00:00February 18th, 2019|Categories: Adulting, Anxiety, Balance, Faith, Fear, Health, Saying No, Uncategorized|6 Comments

Starting the Year Less Than 100%

Confession: January is one of the hardest months for me to institute change in my life. Part of the reason why, is a lifestyle choice. Well, kind of a lifestyle choice. Let me explain. For almost fifteen years now, I have lived away from family. Then, I married someone who also moved away from where he grew up, This means that every Christmas, I travel. During the time of the year where I am most likely to eat foods I know weaken my body, and to fill my schedule limiting time for rest, I get on an airplane with a [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-01-10T16:41:44+00:00January 14th, 2019|Categories: Balance, Calling, Change, Character, Courage, Failure, Fear, Health, Hope, perseverance, Success|5 Comments

No-vember

My favorite word growing up was, “Yes.” If you think about it, your’s probably was too. It was the answer we wanted for every good question: “Mom, can I ride my bike with my friends?” “Yes.” “Dad, can we go out for ice cream?” “Yes.” “Mom, can I stay up late?” “No.” (bummer) “No” just doesn’t have the same happy ring to it as “yes” does. Especially because it usually means we’re not getting what we want. But “yes” isn’t only our favorite answer, for many of us, it is also our favorite reply. In High School and college, yes [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-11-03T14:15:37+00:00November 5th, 2018|Categories: Courage, Fear, Health, Making Decisions, Saying No|4 Comments

The Hero’s Journey

Ever notice that many of our favorite books-turned-movies all follow the same formula? Katniss, Harry Potter, Frodo—the story is always the same. Sure their lives and situations look different, but their journeys, not so much. At their core, each of these stories is about a normal, seemingly everyday person faced with an impossible quest. But why are we so enamored by them when we aren’t faced with the arena, becoming a wizard, or the daunting task of destroying an evil ring before it destroys us? What about the hero’s journey speaks to you and me? All this month, we have [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-10-18T18:45:26+00:00October 29th, 2018|Categories: Acceptance, Calling, Character, Courage, Failure, Fear, Health, Hope, Mental Health, perseverance, Success, Uncategorized, Waiting|3 Comments

You’ll Figure This Out

Do you remember your first day of school? Having to figure out what classroom you belonged in, where to sit, and who to talk to? All of your new classmates and even your teacher seemed at least a little scary. And, if like me, you changed schools at an older age, that first day felt even more daunting. For some reason, the older we get, the greater the potential to feel self conscious. Because, no matter what our age, Beginning new things, in new places is always hard. As a kid, I thought new things were hard because I was [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2018-08-20T15:59:21+00:00September 10th, 2018|Categories: Change, Courage, Failure, Fear, Hope, perseverance, Uncategorized|2 Comments

What Holds Us Back: The Fear of Criticism

What Holds Us Back: Knowing Too Much

Five Ways I Manage Anxiety

What Holds Us Back: Anxiety

Love Learn Lead April 4, 2019

Never Enough Time

Starting the Year Less Than 100%

No-vember

The Hero’s Journey

You’ll Figure This Out

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