Be More Naked, Feel Less Afraid.
If you saw the word “naked” and clicked this blog post to see the goodies, I’m sorry to say there will be no indecent exposure in this ramble. There will, however, be some naked truth.
I am arguably the least cool age a person could be (28.5). I’m far too old to be considered a kid but I’m just a baby in adult years. I'm in this perpetual state of cluelessness powered entirely by my ever-growing restlessness. There’s a stirring within me— I am but a hapless explorer with an insatiable longing to venture into the depths of the unknown and explore uncharted territories both within and without. Yo ho, yo ho, it’s a pirate’s life for me, etc. etc.
This yearning, I believe, is universal, though it manifests uniquely in each of us. Some bury it like a folded and forgotten sweater, while others let it consume them in cycles of doubt and insecurity. Then there are those brave souls who stare fear in the face, unflinching amid uncertainty, stripping away its layers until it becomes nothing more than a distant memory in the story of who they used to be.
So here I stand, on the precipice of uncertainty, armed with only my naked courage to guide me forward. I’m not just visiting occasionally—I've unpacked all my bags and taken up residency here. Sure, I'm almost always a little bit afraid, but being bold isn't about never feeling fear. It’s about acknowledging fear and pushing forward anyway because that's what you do when you’re a badass and there's something extraordinary waiting on the other side. It's about seizing control of our destiny and steering our own ship. (Sorry—in my pirate era, apparently.)
For me, embracing fear meant taking a leap of faith, and accepting a job where I'd be relocating every ten months. Being a professional nomad sounded exhilarating—in theory. But, once I committed, I was flooded with checklists and worst-case scenarios. The fear was loud. You want me to pack up all my belongings? And my dog? And move across the country? To work a new job? With a new team? In a new city? By myself? And then do it all again in ten months? I spilled the entire pot of coffee on the floor today and cried for seven minutes. Ain’t no way.
I was on the verge of backing out entirely. It would be so much safer to stick with what I know. But then, I had a little chat with my future self. I imagined how pissed she’d be if I let fear call the shots.
Thus began my journey to mending my relationship with fear. I turned fear into an ally, reshaping it from a paralyzing force into a powerful source of motivation. Instead of hindering my progress, fear became the turbo engine propelling me forward on my path. (Pro Tip: fear is no match for a turbo engine. Turbo go brrrrrr!!)
My turbo transformation didn't happen overnight; it required a shift in perspective, a reevaluation of fear as just another emotion in the vast spectrum of human experience.
Okay—here comes the naked part. No matter how brave we become, fear will likely stick around or resurface at some point. It's like an intrusive but well-meaning shadow monster, always lurking in the background. Sometimes it's loud and in-your-face, while other times it's subtle and sneaky. If it helps— I picture my fear as a little man with a very blatant disguise mustache. He’s my buddy and he’s not so bad when you get to know him.
I know how heavy and vulnerable the ever-present fear realization can feel. But rather than viewing it as a hindrance, I've come to see fear as a guiding light, signaling moments of growth and transformation. By embracing our fears, we strip away the illusions of invincibility, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and open to new possibilities.
We're all navigating our own fear-filled adventures, learning and growing along the way. Get naked (emotionally) and relax into the idea that fear is the best friend you never asked for. And while fear may never fully disappear, we can learn to coexist with it, harnessing its power to push us forward into the unknown. I’m picturing fear as a majestic stallion and you as a sexy little jockey.
I hope you’ll embrace future fear-filled experiences as an opportunity for growth, knowing that when we become a little more naked, we become a lot less afraid.
With my whole heart,
Your Maddy
