Hi Everyone!

I hope your summer is relaxing, and you are getting the rejuvenation you require.

I'm still working on refining the details for my October workshops, but will have them finalized for the next newsletter. See a new video clip of my hilarious Generations Talkin' role-play on my home page (click here).

Be well,

Barb Langlois

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Article ~

"I've had thousands of problems in my life,
most of which never actually happened."
~ Mark Twain

What Will People Think?

by Barb Langlois

I was put to the test! As many of you know, I lead many workshops on breaking free from your comfort zone and taking action to create the life you desire. By the way, how are you doing with that?

I’ve been moaning and complaining (in my head so no-one can hear me) about not having “straight teeth” (I know, you are all trying to remember what my teeth look like). Anyway this has been one of my “wants” for a long time, especially since I spend a lot of time in front of groups. Do you have a “want” list?

Well, I decided to go to the orthodontist and find out what’s involved. Much to my surprise, A LOT is involved: appointments, brushing, cooperation and I’ve only covered the first 3 letters of the alphabet! I haven’t even mentioned payments, quivers and reactions!

OH, reactions! That was a big one for me. Here’s why:

In my childhood home, you could see the school yard from our kitchen window. One day after school, my mom was looking out the window and noticed a large crowd of kids gathered in a circle. In those days that meant a fight. A while later, I arrived home and my mom greeted me: “who was fighting?”

“Bruce.” I replied.

She continued: “Who was he fighting with?”

I paused and then blurted: “Me!”

My mom was stunned. “You?” she questioned.

“But mom, he made me mad.” I shouted. “I didn’t hurt him, I just pinned him down and made him say ‘auntie.’”

“Barb, you can’t do that,” my mom said sternly. “Girls don’t fight! What will people think?”

That was my earliest memory of being conditioned to consider what others think. It’s when I began to believe it was more important to do what society wanted and expected me to do than to go with my heart.

This conditioning has been a lifelong companion. I often consider what “others will think” about my choices and decisions. Do you?

Back to the orthodontists’ office. . .

I was talking to the orthodontist, Dr. C, and I said, “well I’m a bit nervous because my work involves speaking and leading workshops.”

“Oh” Dr. C says “that’s not a big deal. Every conference I go too, at least half of the speakers wear braces!”

Go figure.

I’m not sure orthodontists will be in my audience, but I decided I would go ahead and book my braces appointment. It turned out to be 3 months away, I had lots of time to think about it. Two days before my appointment, I hit the wall. “What are people going to think? Will they make fun of me? How will I be judged? Can you tell I was hung up on what people would think? What are you hung up on?

I thought about cancelling, it would be so much easier and my teeth were “ok.” Then I remembered what I talk about in my workshops and keynotes: “do the thing that scares you the most. You can only grow as a person if you step out of your comfort zone.” I even lead an exercise to help people move out of their comfort zone. How could I continue with my workshops and keynotes if I don’t walk the talk, I mean face the brace? Answer: I can’t.

I decided right then and there that I had to face my fear, my fear of what others’ would think of me wearing braces. I went ahead and got my new hardware installed.

Now you may think that my fear of what others think or my fear of wearing braces is trivial. It is, but it’s real to me, just like your fears are real to you, but may seem trivial to me.

Our fears don’t serve us. They stop us dead in our tracks. They prevent us from achieving the life we desire. Most of the time we become afraid to step out of our comfort zone because of stories we create that we believe are true. Stories like “I’m not good enough,” “If I only had more education, more time, more marriages . . . ” The list is endless.

Your stories and fears do not serve you. What serves you is a belief in yourself. You are an incredible human being with untapped, unlimited potential. Go ahead, take the step. You owe it to yourself.

Step Out of the Ordinary!

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