Don’t Let Fear Pinch Your Fingers: The Courage to Open Up

Recently, my daughter, Queen Glory wanted to use her umbrella. The dark clouds showed signs of rain.

She:

Expected Me

to open and close her umbrella for her.

No.

It’s her umbrella.

She was nervous about opening it to the point of crying. Perhaps, she has opened an umbrella before and got her little fingers snapped.

Interesting how a “bad” or “uncomfortable” experience can keep us from ever stepping out again and again and again.

As she cried about me requiring that she open her own umbrella – I saw her fear in action. She was moving her hand in a way to avoid them being pinched but was so scared she wouldn’t open her own umbrella. She was trying, battling fear in real time.

I kept telling her she was safe, that this was a kid umbrella.

She wasn’t trusting me.

I took her umbrella and repeatedly showed her how I opened and closed it in all kinds of hand positions, demonstrating she could do it without getting hurt.

She continued to cry and I told her that she could not use this umbrella if she wouldn’t do it herself. Seeking to motivate her. So I moved like I was going to put it back in the trunk.

Ooh I wanted to put it back, but I knew she could conquer this. I decided to break it into parts. I told her she could open this now herself, but later she would have to close it herself.

She opened her umbrella unharmed. I told her to wipe her tears and get it together before we crossed the street. She did.

When we reached the store – she closed the umbrella herself. As we looked around the store I congratulated her for pushing through that challenge.

When we exited it was downpouring – she opened her umbrella with ease. No tears. No fuss.

Glad we crushed “fear” before the rain poured for real!

When we got back in the car, I asked her if she had ever been hurt opening an umbrella…she told me “no”…perhaps she picked up on that fear from something or someone she watched. Nevertheless, she beat her umbrella “fear” today.

What are you overhyping or giving more power to than you should?

What umbrella are you afraid to open?