When I read something that says something like, “She fearlessly did X, Y and Z…,” I cringe.

I cringe because it makes me feel inadequate. Like I can’t possibly measure up. Like I won’t ever be as influential as I want to be simply because I don’t walk around being fearless.

I wonder that if it’s true that it takes fearlessness to do something big, how can I possibly have a big impact if I still have that darn fear lurking around like the taste of garlic after eating escargot?

In fact, a lot of times it seems like living my life requires me to do things with fear coming right along for the ride. When I think about big things that I’ve done, whether it’s having a difficult conversation, admitting something to myself I’d rather not, putting a new program or service offering out there, or speaking in front of a certain audience, I have done them with fear, not fearlessly.

What I’d rather hear is this:

“She did X, Y and Z while shaking in her shoes.”

or

“She accomplished X even not having all of the information but with a resolve to do it nonetheless.”

Fearless? I call baloney. I don’t think people do big things fearlessly. I think they do big things with fear preceding an intimate date with courage.

Fearless?

Let’s stop saying that and get real.