Meet DeBora M. Ricks! DeBora shares how she hugged her fear and wrote her first book. Read along to see how she did it and how you can use what she learned to take steps towards your dream too!
Tell us a little bit about yourself
Where do I start? I’m a lawyer, author of three books, editor, consultant to aspiring authors, mother to an amazing young woman, and woman who has been on a life-long mission to find herself, and live the woman she finds.
What was one thing that you were scared to do and did anyway? And what exactly scared you about doing that one thing?
“I was afraid to write my first book, Love Addicted. I think my fear was that of many would-be authors, I feared being seen, known and rejected. There’s something incredibly daring about writing. That sort of vulnerability takes courage. I define courage as the willingness to act even as fear nips at your heels.”
What did you do or what happened to help you ultimately hug (overcome) your fear and do that thing?
I sat down. One hot August day I put my butt in the seat and started to write. I was working on that “good government” job when a coworker, whom I’d told yet again that I wanted to write a book snapped, “DeBora, write THE book! It’s not going to write itself.” That “brick” up side my head woke me up.
Action cures fear. That’s the only thing that does. I didn’t overcome the fear, I simply befriended it.
Are there any books, practices or other resources that helped and/or continue to help you hug your fear?
Meditation and prayer. And listening to loads of motivating teachers and gurus, people like hypnotist Joseph Clough, Abraham Hicks, Wayne Dyer…just to name a few. I also attend a Science of Mind church where I’m reminded that I am one with the one who created me, therefore I am powerful beyond measure.
What would you say to someone who wanted to do something that scared them, but was struggling to take a step?
Acknowledge that you’re afraid. It’s really okay. Know that action cures fear. And be willing to do “it” afraid, do it badly, do it awkwardly, do it uncertain.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Fear is a natural part of life. Don’t expect to ever be fearless. But know that you can move through fear to create a life you love.
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So that’s DeBora’s story! I love how she’s embraced fear as part of her life and not let it stop her from moving forward. What did you learn? Got any questions for DeBora? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
And if you want to show DeBora some personalized love or just learn more about her books and what else she’s working on, you can find her at her website here.
Lights, camera, ACTION. It’s all about action. Debora’s advice to befriend fear by acting with it, then through it, was helpful. Noted!
Yes! That’s what it’s all about, right? Thanks, Justin!
Justin, I rather like that, “Lights, Camera, ACTION!” Because fear, as we know, can take us to some vey dark places, so throwing some light on our fear is a brilliant idea.
And you know what else, when I finally learned that action cures fear I stopped wasting energy beating up on myself for being scared and instead turned my attention towards taking even the smallest step towards my results.
DeBora, I love the idea of not wasting time being unkind to yourself because you’re afraid! Sometimes we feel fear, and that’s ok, it’s how we move in the midst of it that matters most. Thanks for sharing that!
Varonica, Buddha says “You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” To that I add this: You, yourself, as much as anybody deserves your compassion. Fear is a life-long companion, but I will not hate myself for feeling it. Instead, I will practice being compassionate and loving and kind as I walk through fear.
By the way, you ROCK! I love what you do here at Hug Your Fear!
I love this! Thanks DeBora!
I can relate to much of what DeBora has written here, Varonica, on my journey in writing a blog and sharing my life story. I found comfort in two points – fear is natural and action cures fear. “Write the book – it’s not going to write itself!!” Great advice for ever aspect of life. Thank you for this shot of motivation and courage.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Vishnu!
Vishnu, you are spot on. Accepting that nothing, or very little, happens in the absence of us taking action (even the term “Law of Attraction” has the word “act” smack dab in the middle of it) can move us into action…even in the face of fear. The beautiful thing about this is that once we get going, fear subsides.
I love this reminder, DeBora! Law of Attraction involves action.