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Be guided by your desires not by your fears

- Annabel Chown

Earlier this year, I was offered the chance to teach meditation to a group of women. While I’ve meditated for 20 years, I’m not trained to teach it. Occasionally, I’d weave five minutes of it into one of the yoga classes I host. But the prospect of a regular, hour-long class terrified me.

My friend, Ayala, a very experienced meditation teacher, had been the group’s first choice. She was too busy, so recommended me. The women wanted a trial session first.

‘How on earth will you make it through a whole hour? You’ll probably be a huge disappointment, especially compared to Ayala. I bet they won’t ask you back.’ These were among the thoughts streaming through my mind.

I shared them with Ayala. ‘I think you’re ready,’ she said. ‘But, more importantly, do you want to do this?’

I thought hard about it. I love how meditation connects me to a quiet, spacious place deep within, away from the noise of my thoughts and of day-to-day life. Behind my doubts lay a longing to guide others to that place.

I ask executive coach Lisa Quinn why this critical voice, warning us of all that can go wrong, arises when we consider stepping into unfamiliar territory.