Why I Was Terrified Of Social Media - And How I Overcame It
For years, I was terrified of social media. I was afraid to post a picture or share a positive message with someone I cared about. I told myself I just didn’t like it, but the truth was, I was afraid of being judged.
When I started my coaching business, I knew I couldn’t let fear hold me back. I told myself, "There’s no failure, only learning." So, I built a website, created business cards, joined networking groups, and started working with clients. I was testing every avenue to grow my business.
But as I observed other successful coaches, one thing became clear: they all had a strong social media presence. If I wanted to reach my goals, I’d have to embrace this too.
Studying mindset and learning neuro-linguistic programming helped me look at things differently. But even with these tools, I still felt frozen. What if nobody watched my videos? As a television producer, that felt humiliating. What if people used it to make fun of me behind my back? What if the people I worked with in TV saw it and it impacted my career?
I was playing a game of “what if?”—but never considering the positive side of the question. What if people did find value in what I was sharing? What if I could help others through my journey?
I dug deeper and realized the root of my fear: What if I’m not good enough? It’s a limiting belief that holds many of us back, lurking quietly in our subconscious.
I used the tools I’d learned to identify this belief—and remove it.
Then, I posted that first video. I wrote my first blog. I went on my first podcast. And something amazing happened: I loved it! My friends reached out to encourage me. Strangers contacted me, telling me how helpful my content was. I had discovered that creating content, something I’ve loved since I was five, could be part of growing my business.
The more I posted, the more I wanted to post. Two months ago, I never would have dreamed of writing this blog, being so vulnerable with so many people. But I know many of you feel the same way, because so many of my small business clients face the same fear and avoid social media.
So, I want to share three things I tell them:
Action leads to more action. When you take action, it frees you to be fearless in other areas of your life as well.
Nobody really cares. Everyone is focused on their own lives—they don’t even notice what you’re doing.
The people who love you will always love you. There are people who won’t like you—that’s okay. Focus on the ones who do.
To everyone who has reached out with kind words of encouragement—thank you! Your support is “Action Fuel” for me.
If you’re holding back because of fear of judgment, I urge you to run toward the very thing you’re afraid of. Break free from that fear and don’t waste another second holding yourself back.
