There have been times in my life where facing fears has been difficult. I am mortified to admit this, but I was afraid of my shadow as a kid. I would walk by a light pole at night, see my shadow, and immediately think I was followed. I would sprint or walk in a different direction, but often, I could not shake my shadow. My siblings criticized me and had the time of their lives, making jokes about me and fearing my shadow. However, as a parent now, I am still afraid of my shadow. Not the one that reflects light but the literal shadow that mimics everything I perform, similar to my shadow reflection, my kids.

Raising kids is difficult. I have fears and questions: am I developing my shadow for success? What are some things that I can do to help my kids succeed? I fear whether I am doing the right thing to prepare my shadow for a successful life. But, just as Susan David, the author of Emotional Agility, courage is not the absence of fear; courage is fear walking. So, as I know that fear is inevitable, as a parent, I allow courage to be the driving force, knowing that fear is still there. I embrace the shadow from the result of a light reflection that scared me as a kid to now; the light that reflects me that my kids will have an everlasting impact on society.

Similarly, at work, we had shadows. Our colleagues and mentees follow us like the light reflection and my kids. There may be fear that we are not good enough to be shadowed. There may be doubt about the direction in which to lead your shadow. No matter the circumstance, know that you are prepared. The time is now to have courage and walk with fear. Allow courage to be the driving force, knowing that fear is imminent but not the zenith. That belongs to your courage.

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When student-athletes decide to attend college, they leave the nest to start their journey as adults. They connect with peers and professors to help them grow as people and scholars. The institutional culture that they attend is also critical in this process. But, throughout my professional journey, I learned that parents can be the caveat to hindering this growth.

Listen, I admit that I did not have a kid in college. But I once was a kid in college. I know that experience well and had to make a hard decision. That was to disconnect from my parents just enough so that I could grow as an individual. My parents never called my coach or professors. I would have been mortified. Because I did not have helicopter parents in these moments, it forced me to communicate, strategize, and think critically. Therefore, parents and athletes, growing with your community and institution are fine because that unlocks growth opportunities.

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What makes you get up and go to that 5 AM workout? Is it health? What about staying up late to finish that work assignment? Is it perfectionism? Nevertheless, a "Why" is usually attached to a connection to something deeper. Some philosophers think that asking or saying why instead of what forces the other person to create a barrier or insert a defense mechanism, but I believe that answering your "Why" is important and will help uncover critical aspects of your work and personal life.

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