{"id":623,"date":"2025-03-21T17:38:13","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T17:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michelleshaw.co.uk\/?p=623"},"modified":"2025-03-21T17:38:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T17:38:13","slug":"turning-fear-into-fuel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/?p=623","title":{"rendered":"What if you could turn fear into fuel \u2013 without pretending you\u2019re not scared? \ud83c\udfa4\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\ude31"},"content":{"rendered":"

What if you could turn fear into fuel \u2013 without pretending you\u2019re not scared?<\/strong> \ud83c\udfa4\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\ude31<\/p>\n

Why I\u2019m Sharing This \ud83c\udfac<\/h3>\n

Hi, I\u2019m Michelle Shaw \u2013 coach, creative, and recovering perfectionist \ud83d\ude05. I wrote this post for anyone who\u2019s ever held back because they were scared of being seen too soon, too rough, or too real. This is about finding your voice when everything in you wants to stay quiet \u2013 and what happens when you show up anyway.<\/p>\n

This blog started as a raw LinkedIn Live. No polish. No pressure to perform. Just a story I felt the urge to tell in the moment. And if you’re curious, I’ve saved the recording for you.<\/p>\n

We hear it all the time: “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” But what if we stop trying to bulldose over the fear and instead, work with<\/em> it? What if we didn\u2019t have to pretend we\u2019re not scared?<\/p>\n

The truth is, fear is often a signpost. It’s not always a red flag \ud83d\udea9. Sometimes, it means we’re stepping into something important \u2013 something new, meaningful, and worth pursuing \ud83d\udcab. But for many of us, especially if you’re neurodivergent like me, fear can feel paralysing \ud83d\ude35. It doesn’t always show up as just butterflies in your stomach. It can hijack your whole nervous system \ud83e\udde0\ud83d\udca5.<\/p>\n

So what does it actually look like to turn fear into fuel? Buckle up, buttercup \u2013 it’s showtime. \ud83c\udfad\ud83d\ude97<\/p>\n

Start where you are, not where you think you should be. \ud83e\uddcd\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\u27a1\ufe0f\ud83d\ude80<\/h3>\n

When I decided to go live on LinkedIn for the first time, I didn\u2019t have a full plan. I didn\u2019t have a script. I only just had the bare minimum tech nailed down \ud83d\udee0\ufe0f. But I showed up. Why? Because waiting until I felt “ready” would mean waiting forever.<\/p>\n

So many aspects of fear came to mind – it didn\u2019t go away, but it also didn\u2019t stop me. \ud83e\uddcd\u200d\u2744\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Instead of fighting it, I let it ride shotgun \ud83d\ude97. I acknowledged it. I spoke to it, kindly. I said, “Alright fear, I see you. You can come with me. But you\u2019re not driving.”<\/p>\n

Make space for fear, not shame. \ud83e\udde0\ud83e\udec2<\/h3>\n

We\u2019re so often told to fake confidence until we make it. But for those of us who value authenticity, that can feel wrong on so many levels – performative in fact. \ud83c\udfad<\/p>\n

What if, instead, we made space to be nervous? What if we showed up, shaky voice and all, and still<\/em> delivered something powerful? \ud83c\udf99\ufe0f\ud83d\ude2c<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what happened to me at Madame Tussauds in New York years ago. Unaware of what I was about to be presented with – I didn’t have long to decide but I grabbed the opportunity and stepped up to a karaoke mic in front of strangers. Not because I thought I was amazing, but because I felt a deep nudge that I needed to do it. For me. It was clunky. Nerve-wracking. But liberating. And the feeling I had after? I can still access it now \ud83c\udfb5\ud83d\udc83.<\/p>\n

Break it down until it makes sense for you<\/em>. \ud83e\udde9\ud83e\ude9c<\/h3>\n

Everyone says “just get started” as if the first step is easy. But it’s not, especially when your brain processes information differently \ud83e\uddc3\u26a1.<\/p>\n

Sometimes you need anywhere from 10-100 micro-steps before Step One even feels doable. That doesn\u2019t make you weak. That makes you aware<\/em>. \ud83d\udc53\u2728<\/p>\n

When we break things down into our language, our rhythm, our pace \u2013 that’s when fear starts to lose its grip. Not because we pushed through it blindly, but because we understood what it needed in order to come along for the ride \ud83d\udefc\ud83c\udfa7.<\/p>\n

Your fear isn\u2019t the enemy. It\u2019s part of your crew. \ud83c\udfad\ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83e\udd1d\u200d\ud83e\uddd1<\/h3>\n

Fear is trying to protect you. It just doesn\u2019t always know the difference between “new” and “dangerous.”<\/p>\n

So instead of silencing it, invite it. Learn from it. Let it teach you where your edges are. Let it point you to the moments that matter most. That\u2019s how fear becomes fuel. \ud83d\udca1\u26fd<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your karaoke moment? \ud83c\udfa4\ud83d\udc40<\/h3>\n

What\u2019s the thing you\u2019ve been putting off because it feels big or risky or too much?<\/p>\n

What if your job wasn\u2019t to be fearless, but to be brave<\/em> with your fear by your side? \ud83d\udcaa\ud83d\ude28<\/p>\n

I’d love to hear about your karaoke moments \u2013 real or metaphorical. And if you’re still figuring out what yours might be, I’d really love to\u00a0help you break it down until the first step feels safe enough to take. \ud83d\udee0\ufe0f\ud83e\udded<\/p>\n

Also \u2013 if you\u2019d like to watch any one of my raw, unfiltered first times unfolding in realtime \ud83d\udc40\ud83c\udfa5 \u2013 whether my very first ever LinkedIn Live, the first time I sang in front of an audience or my very first ever speaking gig \u2013 drop a comment below and I\u2019ll send you the link. I\u2019d absolutely love your feedback. \ud83c\udfa4\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\udcdd \ud83d\udcdd\ud83e\udef6<\/p>\n

Because sometimes, that\u2019s all you need. \ud83c\udfb6\u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n

Want help finding your<\/em> moment?<\/h3>\n

If this blog hit home for you and you’re ready to take one brave step forward (in your own time, your own way), I offer 1:1 coaching, group sessions, and guidance and support designed to work with your rhythm \u2013 not against it.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s find your pace. \ud83c\udfa7\u2728 https:\/\/calendly.com\/michelleshaw25<\/a><\/p>\n

Or Connect with me on LinkedIn<\/a> and request your personalised resource requests, real talk, and the occasional karaoke confession straight to your inbox. \ud83d\udc8c\ud83c\udfa4<\/p>\n

#FearIntoFuel #CourageOverConfidence #NeurodivergentVoices #BraveNotPerfect #DoItScared #PublicSpeaking #AuthenticityMatters #UnmaskingND #PersonalGrowth #SpeakUp #RealAndRaw #AlignedLiving #ConfidenceThroughClarity #ShowUpAsYouAre<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What if you could turn fear into fuel \u2013 without pretending you\u2019re not scared? \ud83c\udfa4\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\ude31 Why I\u2019m Sharing This \ud83c\udfac Hi, I\u2019m Michelle Shaw \u2013 coach, creative, and recovering perfectionist \ud83d\ude05. I wrote this post for anyone who\u2019s ever held back because they were scared of being seen too soon, too rough, or too real. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-overcoming-challenges-and-building-resilience","category-personal-growth-and-empowerment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=623"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}