There I was — getting ready to bowl with one of the best in the world.

A literal masterclass in talent, composure, and consistency. The kind of bowler people line up to watch. The kind whose name carries weight. And I? I was just… me. Grateful, excited — and if I’m honest — quietly freaking out. Because behind my smile and casual warm-up shots, my mind was spinning.

Not because of anything he did. He’s super casual, incredibly kind, and refreshingly humble. He has a nonchalance that makes you feel super cozy. But that didn’t stop the inner spiral. It wasn’t about him.

It was about me.
It was about the stories I started telling myself. The pressure I felt to perform. The invisible standard I thought I had to meet.
And then came the flood of “what ifs”:

What if I mess up?
What if I embarrass myself?
What if I’m not good enough to keep up? It’s wild how quickly the brain can build a worst-case scenario montage — like it’s trying to protect you by preparing you. But really? It just ties you in knots. But then something shifted. In the middle of all that noise, I remembered a thought that has saved me before — a quiet, compassionate reframe that has walked me through many anxious moments: “What if it turns out better than I thought?” It wasn’t an instant fix. But it cracked the door open. Instead of “What if I fail?”
I asked, “What if I rise?”
Instead of “What if I fall apart?”
I wondered, “What if I fall into the zone?”
Instead of “What if it turns out terribly?”
I dared to imagine, “What if this becomes a moment I remember?”

And you know what? It did.

I loosened up. I laughed. I played with heart, not fear. I even surprised myself a few times — not just with good shots, but with how present I felt. It wasn’t perfect. But it was full. And fun. And real.

And afterward, I realized something I’ll never forget:
The moment didn’t change. I did.

I shifted from panic to possibility. From fear to presence.
And that changed everything.

We All Do This

I know I’m not the only one who goes through this spiral.
You’ve probably had your own version — before a big meeting, a performance, a difficult conversation, or even a new beginning.
That feeling of standing right on the edge of something meaningful… and letting fear drown out your hope.

It’s human.

But here’s the truth I keep learning (and relearning):

The thoughts we choose to feed? They grow.

So if we’re only entertaining disaster, dread, or defeat — we’re already on our heels.

But if we give hope even half a chance to speak up?
That’s where strength lives. That’s where courage finds its spark.

A Thought to Keep in Your Pocket

So today, I want to remind you — gently, honestly:

Yes, things could go sideways.
But they could also go beautifully right.

Let your brain consider that.
Let your body believe it. What if, instead of bracing for the worst, you allowed yourself to imagine the best?

The next time your nerves start chattering, pause.
Ask yourself:

Hold space for both sides of the coin — fear and faith.
But choose to let the good lead the way. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do — on the lanes, in the meeting room, at the starting line, or just getting out of bed — is to trust that this moment might just surprise you.

From the Lanes to Life
Whether you’re bowling, speaking, starting something new, or simply showing up when it’s hard — the truth is the same:

So let your belief match your bravery.
Start your day, your game, your challenge with the possibility that this is going to be magic. And if it is? Remind yourself that you knew all along. 💫