Brave enough to test out the waters

Recently I had a slight moment of fear of the unknown. I was experiencing pain in my right arm, running form my shoulder to my finger tips. As the hours went on, the pain worsened and loss of motion started to occur.

In my head I wondered, “What if this is a heart attack?”

Since I am not of the “demographical age” for a heart attack I sought other causes. I drew basic conclusions from my previous activities, such as lifting weights several days ago and the drop in weather, to start off treating the obvious causes. Early arthritis, pulled muscle, or possible pinched nerve. Each was treated with Glucosamine, 800 mil. motrin, and a warm shower. Yet, the pain did not subside.

Beyond my physical symptoms I am aware of the risk factors associated with heart attacks. I meet every one of them: family history, occasional drinker, and former smoker (ok, I sneak one here and there.). Even though I did not meet the standard age group which most heart attacks occur, I still wondered ” What if…”.

Everyday entrepreneurs and current business owners ask “What if” all day long. What if this product doesn’t take? What if I cannot sell my talents? What if the marketing doesn’t work? What if I fail?

The lists of “what if’s” go on endlessly. The only way to get rid of the “what if’s” is to test the water. If you never take the step to try, you will never know if your “what if” is real.

The human nature in us creates these safety boundaries. When our safety (personal or professional, emotional or physical) is in question, our sense become heightened to notice additional clues. Those clues rarely ever come. if they do occur, our preconditioned thought process to handle stress takes over, and we run autopilot. We passively engage in decision avoidance.

I could have decided to lay down or call 911. Allow the fear of the “what if” to take over. Instead I did what any other runner (or hard headed asshole) would do. I got on the treadmill and ran. My heartbeat was fine, breathing was excellent, and though my arm still hurt…the pain lessened. I understood that my senses where heightened to all pain, due to the stress of worrying over heart attack.

I had to be brave enough to test out the waters before I could really know who controlled the situation: Fear or me.