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Have you been thinking about making a career change?

However, you have a fear that’s holding you back from being a working career mom?

Being a Working Career Mom Despite Your Fears

Have you ever had a fear that you never told anyone? A fear so big, that you haven’t even confessed it to yourself! I literally just realized I have a huge fear as I drove in a snow/rainstorm listening to Ruth Soukups Do it Scared Podcast.

I’m picking up my friend from the airport and her flight is delayed. It’s a snowy and rainy day. Yes, it snowed earlier and now it’s raining. Welcome to Chicagoland!

As I get to the airport I see several cars parked on the soft shoulder with hazard lights turned on and I decided to be a rebel and join them.

I just had an epiphany!

A realization about myself. As I listened to the Do it Scared Podcast.

I had to park as soon as I could to write this down.

Realizing Your Fear. And Doing it Scared!. Anyway!

I’m sitting in my car as I write this. Parked on the soft shoulder right off the highway just outside O’Hare Airport.

When Ruth Soukup first launched her podcast in 2018 I thought, I’m not scared of anything much. However, I just hadn’t allowed myself to think about “been scared” or my fears.

I have had to jump in and do many scary things in my life. Alone.

Growing up I was so dependent on friends, family, anyone that would accompany me going out to events or just doing regular life. I did not like going out or doing things alone.

My mom would say, in patios, our Jamaican dialect, “ if u fren dem jump off a bridge you a go jump to!”

Meaning, “if your friends jump off a bridge, are you going to jump too?”.

She was trying to get me to be comfortable doing things by myself.

I heard this enough. And I guess it started to sink into my head over the years.

Your Childhood Fears May Still Be With You and Preventing You From Going After Your Dreams

I spent my early years growing up in rural Jamaica and was completely oblivious to the world outside “my world”.

My dad didn’t really allow us to watch TV and we only had one local channel in Jamaica at the time. It was years later until I was exposed to cable tv.

First Memory of My Fear Affecting Me

I remember going out one evening with my mom in Kingston, Jamaica. Our Capital.

My mom and I had to cross a busy street with a lot of traffic.

I was terrified! The traffic slowed a bit and my mom held my hand and we started crossing the street. Midway across, I froze and panicked. Pulled my hand away from my mother’s hand and ran back to the side of the street. I don’t remember how I got back to my mom,
I just remember how terrified I was of the busy street and all the vehicles.

This all came back to me as I realized my fear of highways and all the traffic.

You Can’t Let Your Fears Prevent You From Being a Working Career Mom

My fear of traffic and big trucks have never subsided. I don’t think I have really told anyone or admitted before that I’m terrified of big roads. Yep, the highway! With all the semi-trucks, trailers and high-speed driving vehicles.

My mom started giving me driving lessons as a teenager in Kingston, Jamaica. If you have ever visited Jamaica or the Caribbean. You know how crazy it can be driving there. My mom was fearless navigating and driving Jamaican roads.

I had to get a professional instructor to teach me to drive as my mom and I would get into it. I remember her saying, “right, no, your other right or just press the gas and go!!!”

Looking back, I was scared! And when I started professional driving lessons people would honk their horns and shout that the instructor should “take me to ”the cane field or bushes ” to practice”.

But you know what, that was the best induction into driving for me.

When I migrated to the United States everything was bigger. They were so many lanes! And the trucks! Let’s not even mention them!

Don’t Let Your Fears Prevent You From Living & Going After the Career You Need

I love to travel and have been taking road trips since I was a teenager. Even though, I’m not a fan of driving on big busy roads.

I rented cars while in college and drove five hours home to Miami quite a few times.

As soon as I purchased a car I traveled to see all my family along the East Coast. Traveling to Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, through the Carolinas, to Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and New York. I put over 200,000 miles on my first car.

I didn’t let my fear stop me from living. Maybe I was just young and crazy.

Your Fears May Not Go Away. But, You Must Keep Going!

Today, I started getting in my head as I got on the highway. I felt fear kicking in.

The weather sucks. Since relocating to Chicagoland I haven’t been driving on the highway much. Prior to relocating, I drove on the highway almost everyday for over 10 years.

I started praying as I got on the highway and talked myself into pushing through.

As I listened to the Do it Scared Podcast it dawned on me.

That I’m freaking afraid of highways!!!

I started remembering all these instances in my past that even though I’m afraid of highways, I never let that fear stop me.

How Do We Overcome Fear? And Go After the Career You Want and Need!

Most of us can’t change what we’re afraid of. We just have to find a way to take action despite our fears.

I can’t let my fear and “what if’s” hold me back from going after my dreams. And You Can’t Either!

So, overcome your fear and get out there and Do it Scared. Fight for the life you know you want and need. Being a Working Career Mom.

At the beginning of every podcast episode, Ruth Soukup reminds her listeners that –

“Courage doesn’t mean we are never afraid, courage is daring to take action, despite our fear. “

Ruth Soukup opened my eyes to the power of podcast with her Do it Scared Podcast. I highly recommend listening to this podcast if you’re feeling stuck and afraid. Start with episode one. There is also a fear assessment that you can take to see how your fears are holding you back.

Getting Scared as I Realize my Do it Scared Moment

I’m sitting on the side of the highway at this moment. I lost my train of thought as a cop just came and announced with his lights flashing that” it’s illegal to park on the side of the road”.

So, note to self if you ever think of “parking on the soft shoulder at the airport”, it’s not legal!

I drove to the cell phone waiting area.

You Can Have a Career and be a Great Mom! Despite Your Fears!

You need to first discover what it is that you want to do for your career – to help you identify your fear.
The thing/s that you’re afraid of that’s holding you back. Holding you back from going after the life you know you NEED.

First, Discover yourself.
Then, Discover what you need in your career.
In order to identify and conquer your fear.

Not sure where to start with discovering yourself. Check out this post where I share five steps to help you have a career and be a great mom. The first step is “Take a Step Back and Discover Yourself”.

Being a Working Career Mom Despite Your Fears

I continue to have many fears. Especially since becoming a mom.

FEARS AS A MOM

As I sit here thinking back at the many things I have stressed or feared – as a mom – some seem silly now.

Going grocery shopping with my firstborn baby.
Managing two drop-offs and two pick-ups while working in a new job.
Traveling by myself with two young kids.
Not giving enough time to my kids because of work.

I find that I fear things more when they are unknowns. What about you?

Hearing and seeing other moms “doing it” have given me confidence and courage to know that “she did it and I can do it too”!

This is why it’s so important for us as moms to share our stories. When we share, we learn from each other and can support and empower each other to take action and go after our dreams.

Tallawah Human Community
Supporting Moms That Want to Have a Career and Be Great Moms

This is what lead me to create Tallawah Human. I was a frustrated mom trying to be the best mom to my two daughters while having a career. But, I didn’t feel like I was doing either well.

You can be a working career mom despite your fears.

Want to have a career and be a great mom? However, you’re afraid?

Take Action and Conquer Your Fears!

“Action is the antidote to fear!” Another saying of Ruth Soukup on her podcast.

Don’t let your fears and “what if’s” hold you back from going after your dreams.

Take Action! Overcome Your Fear! Get Out There and Do it Scared!

What’s your “Dream Career”?

Being a full time stay at home mom?
Returning to the workforce as a [ ]?
Working parttime as [ ]?
Starting your own business?
Continuing with your side hustle?

YOU define what it means to be a working career mom for yourself and start working on overcoming your fears so you can create the life you know you WANT and NEED.

How do you start?

What’s next as you try to become a Working Career Mom Despite Your Fears!

Start by taking one step, then another and another…

My confidence and courage increased tremendously when I drove on the highway daily.
I drove on and off without thinking about it. It became second nature to me. To the point where I didn’t remember my fear of the highway.

I have a fear, however, did it anyway.

I did it many moons ago when I first drove in Jamaica.

Then when I relocated to the U.S.

And again today when I had to pray and coach myself into pushing through and Do it Scared!

Like me, your fears may not go away. However, by taking action, you can conquer your fears and become a Working Career Mom.
Whatever being a Working Career Mom means for YOU!

Download and complete this Worksheet to help you discover who you are and who you want to be.
When you discover yourself and the career you want, you will then discover the fears preventing you from moving forward.

What’s your career dream? What fears are holding you back from taking action and pursuing them?

I would love to hear about your career dreams and the fears holding you back.

Please share below in the comments. Or, hit reply and let me know. You can also email me at yamiek@tallawahHuman.com.
Let me know how I can assist you.

Cheers to doing mommy life, even though we’re scared sometimes!