Ep. 20 - Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway: Alter Ego, 45 Seconds of Courage and the Day After

The End of the Day Podcast with Kari Watterson: Using Mindset Work to Live Your Best Life

"Stories are a doorway to insight." - Rich Litvin
In this episode I share a story about a pivotal moment in my oldest daughter's life. It was emotional for me to read because it brought me right back to May of 2019 when she was finishing up her senior year of high school.
This story was not only a transformational moment in her life, but it also signaled how much our relationship had changed and grown. As I explain in the intro, I carried so much of my insecurities and fears into adulthood which meant what I modeled for my girls wasn't always what I hoped. One of the reasons I dove into mindset work and personal development for myself was because I could see how my own insecurities, fears, unchallenged conditioning, and past emotional baggage was playing out in their lives.
It took quite a bit of time to build the relationship I have now with my oldest daughter. She had to trust that I was not going to be so judgmental. She had to trust that I loved her unconditionally. She had to trust when I encouraged her to follow her own path that it wasn't an empty platitude. In truth, it wasn't until she saw me changing my relationship with myself (being kinder, less judgmental, more compassionate) and saw me working through my own fears and insecurities and start showing up the way I always wanted, that she was able to trust I could hold the same space for her.
Knowing how far she's come, and how far we've come together as mother and daughter, made this one of my more emotional podcasts.
Even though this story has special meaning for me, the story itself is universal: making a decision to do something truly vulnerable and scary, second-guessing, then working through the fear to accomplish something amazing.
Three lessons are woven through this story:
- Sasha Fierce - the power of embracing an alter ego to do things you want to do
- 45 seconds of insane courage
- Looking in the mirror the day after
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it.
If you find this episode helpful, please share. You never know who you may help by doing so. Thank you so much.
*** Full permission from my daughter to use this story.***
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IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING, PLEASE KNOW HELP IS AVAILABLE.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 160 crisis centers that provides 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 1-800-273-8255. It is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
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Resources cited in this episode:
Podcast - Copy Chief with Kevin Rogers, Ep. 126: Tood Herman: Author of the Alter Ego Effect
Book - We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee
Movie Clip - We Bought a Zoo, 20 Seconds of Insane Courage
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Original intro/outro music by JMW.
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To learn more about what I do, my coaching philosophy and how to work with me, email me at [e-mail] or visit my website at https://kariwatterson.com.
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For more mindset thoughts and tips, follow me on social media:
Instagram: @kari_mindsetcoach
Twitter: @KaWatterson