“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.
Last week I addressed why you should feel proud to innovate your kids’ education. I talked about why it’s important to take risks, because without taking risks there can’t be any rewards.
And while I realize that it’s hard to ignore peer pressure, it can be even harder to face the little doubting voices in your own head.:
- What if my kids end up hating me for not sending them to normal school?
- How will they get into college if they don’t go to school?
I hear these fears from parents I talk to all the time about Armada’s alternative approach to learning.
The fear of trying something new often stops people dead in their tracks before they even start. But starting something new with your kids education is a fear that is worth taking.
I remember when I was 9 years old and my parents let me go on a trip by myself to Minnesota all the way from California. I remember looking back to them as they waved to me from behind the security clearance area. I remember the fear inside me: would I make it alone, would I get lost in the airport?
But my parents had the confidence in my ability to travel on my own, to be independent, and to overcome the risks myself.
When I look back at all the ways my parents decided to face their fear of letting me do something new and exciting, I’m so grateful. They conquered their own fear of all the little things that could go “wrong” and instead focused on what could go right: their daughter could grow into a self-confident risk taker.
If we experience fear, it probably means we’re moving in the right direction. Fear lets us know that we are about to embark on something that will help us grow. Fear is normal, but it doesn’t need to overwhelm us.
Instead of fearing fear, let’s accept and embrace it. A little fear is normal when we are challenging ourselves to reach our potential.
The rewards on the other side of the challenge will help push you to face your next fear and give you the momentum to keep climbing the mountain. You can also be a role model to your kids by helping them see that fear can be overcome.
Keep fear in its place,
Kassandra
Education Unbounded 