Fear, Grief, and Possibility: The Journey to Becoming “I’MPOSSIBLE”
When I sat down to write my first book, I didn’t begin with triumph, success, or hope.
I started with fear.
Why? Because fear has been the single greatest opponent in my life. It’s shown up in countless forms—some obvious, some subtle. Sometimes it’s felt like it won. Other times, I’ve stood up to it, stared it down, and kept going anyway.
💬 “You haven’t failed until you quit trying.”
As someone living with cerebral palsy, I used to fall nearly every day—literally. It wasn’t graceful or pretty, but those moments taught me something no book or speech ever could.
They taught me resilience.
After each fall, I’d pause. Check for injuries. Wipe off the dust. And remind myself:
💬 “This isn’t how this story ends. Get back up and keep going.”
Now, nearly four years after losing my dad—my protector, my North Star—that same voice reminds me to rise.
These days, the falling isn’t always physical. It’s emotional. It’s spiritual. It’s grief. And yet—
Here I am. Still standing. Still getting up.
🧠 What Fear Really Looks Like
Fear isn’t always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it whispers:
“What if I fail?”
“What if I’m not enough?”
“What if it all falls apart?”
💬 “Fear craves control.”
It feeds on uncertainty and convinces us that shrinking back is safer than stepping forward.
But it’s not.
As Nelson Mandela said:
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Fear isn’t going anywhere. But I’ve decided it doesn’t get to decide my limits.
That’s where my first book’s name comes from:
I’MPOSSIBLE. With the apostrophe.
💬 “Possibility begins the moment we’re willing to try.”
💔 The Emotional Weight of Grief
Losing my dad brought these lessons into sharper focus.
He wasn’t just a parent—he was my anchor. When he passed, it felt like the map disappeared. But in the years since, I’ve realized something:
He didn’t just raise me.
He equipped me.
As I wrote in I’MPOSSIBLE JOURNEY:
💬 “A parent’s primary job is to get their child to adulthood. Dad did.”
Now I know:
I can contribute to my community.
I can build support and find resources.
Most importantly, my life has value.
💡 Four Big Ideas That Keep Me Going
Here’s what I return to when fear, grief, or fatigue try to take me down:
🔹 1. Fear is often about control.
Most fear stems from wanting safety or certainty. When I recognize that, I can start moving through fear instead of being ruled by it.
🔹 2. Boredom is a sign of disconnection from purpose.
When we’re not fulfilled, we settle. We numb out. The alternative?
Let your actions reflect your vision, not your fears.
🔹 3. Your heart will take you places your head won’t.
Logic is important—but your heart is sacred, too.
💬 “Find a way.”
Trust your full humanity. Honor your soul’s longing.
🔹 4. You get the final say on what’s possible in your life.
Not fear.
Not the past.
You.
🌱 Learning to Live Without Guarantees
Grief taught me something painful—but freeing:
💬 “There are no guarantees.”
Yes, life hurts. But it also holds beauty, connection, and love.
You can’t protect yourself from pain without also missing joy.
So what do we do?
We open up anyway.
We live anyway.
We love anyway.
Not once. But daily. Sometimes hourly.
We keep choosing hope over fear.
💬 What I Tell My Clients (And Myself)
I work with people navigating disability, grief, or big transitions. Some just feel stuck and don’t know where to begin.
Here’s what I tell them—and what I’ll tell you:
You are not broken.
You are not behind.
You are not alone.
You are in process.
You are unfolding.
You are learning how to rise.
💬 “There’s no shame in struggle. The important thing is to keep going.”
🌿 Cultivating Healthy Awareness
Wholeness begins with awareness:
What do I value?
What drains me vs. fuels me?
When do I need to rest? When do I need to rise?
No one makes it through life alone. I didn’t. I still don’t.
I rely on community, mentors, faith, and tools I’ve gathered over time.
📝 Final Reflections: Your Turn
If fear has been speaking into your life, let me gently ask:
🔹 What’s one thing you’ve been afraid to try?
🔹 What might be possible if you took one brave step?
🔹 What truth do you need to tell yourself today?
You get to write the next chapter.
Fear might still show up—but don’t let it drive.
💬 “This isn’t how your story ends. Get back up. Keep going.”
🔗 Let’s Keep Going—Together
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