“If you do things well, do them better. Be daring, be first, be different…” – Anita Roddick
In our January monthly event, we explored how we can move from a state of doubt, to finding more courage to step into something that feels daring for us.
This month’s highlighted Quest 79’er, Wendy Hamm, has embraced that concept by overcoming her own self-doubt. You can read more of her story here.
Wendy’s story reminded me that when I was younger I tried to fit in. I tried to be what I thought I needed to be in order to be accepted by my peers and by social ‘norms’. But now I know there’s nothing to fit into and that is so freeing. It creates immense possibility.
Fitting in and not being ourselves means we’re not in alignment inside ourselves, and that creates and perpetuates self-doubt. It can stop us from being who we really are, from shining bright, from doing and creating things that would enrich and enhance our own and others lives.
In our monthly session we were very fortunate to have Iona Somerville from www.ionasomerville.com join us. Iona is 21 years old and her journey started when she was just age 14. Lacking in self-belief or aspiration, she was selected by The Polar Academy to train and take part in an Arctic Expedition to Greenland (April 2016).
The journey was transformational. Iona and the rest of the Polar Academy team have since gone on to inspire their peers, talking to thousands of other young people about their experience. They demonstrate what is possible when a goal is set and a team come together, despite previous doubt, lack of self-worth or belief.
Iona’s confidence has since taken a knock through trauma she experienced when she was part of the crowd at the 2017 Ariana Grande concert and bombing in Manchester. But Iona is a determined young role model who would love to go on to inspire others and make people see that anything is possible.
Iona is joining with Quest 79’s Karen Darke to create the POLE OF POSSIBILITY, an inspirational Antarctic project, and a World and Guinness Record. More importantly though it will be an exploration of how we can all transform doubt into dare, turn challenge into opportunity and to connect with nature, people and ideas to create and achieve more than we might believe is possible.
Iona’s and Wendy’s stories of going from doubt to daring, are a reminder of what we can all do. Thanks to them for sharing!
