Fear of Starting

In this Spirit-led teaching, Dr. Leelo Bush addresses one of the most common struggles: the fear of starting. With practical stories and biblical truth, she reveals why hesitation holds us back and how faith empowers us to take that first step. Through Scripture, personal testimony, and proven strategies, listeners will find encouragement to silence fear, embrace courage, and begin the work God has called them to.

• Why fear of starting feels so powerful — and how to break its grip.

• How to reframe failure as growth and obedience to God.

• The biblical perspective on courage and readiness.

• Practical tools to shrink fear and create momentum.

• How faith and small steps open the way for God’s plan.

“Readiness is not something that comes before the journey. It’s something that develops along the way.”

• 2 Timothy 1:7 – God has not given us a spirit of fear.

• Joshua 1:9 – Be strong and courageous; the Lord is with you.

• Isaiah 41:10 – Do not fear, for I am with you.

• Proverbs 16:3 – Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.

• PCCCA Courses → https://pccca.org/courses/

• Healing the Grieving Brain Guide → https://griefcoachu.com/healing/

• The Comprehensive Christian Coach Handbook → https://amzn.to/4mo5ra4

• The Comprehensive Christian Coach Handbook (Amazon) → https://amzn.to/4mo5ra4

• Healing the Grieving Brain Guide → https://griefcoachu.com/healing/

• PCCCA Courses → https://pccca.org/courses/

• Courageous Christian Coaching Tribe (Facebook group) → https://facebook.com/groups/courageouschristiancoachingtribe

Transcript

One of my team members was starting her diet on Monday, but then someone brought over brownies on Sunday night. So obviously she had to wait until Monday. And then of course, Monday wasn't good either. Because there were leftovers. That's how starting works, doesn't it? It always feels like it should happen later. But here's the thing. Waiting doesn't get us anywhere. Today we're talking about why fear of starting feels so powerful and how you can finally take that first step, even when it feels scary.

Welcome to the Christian Coaching School podcast. I'm your host, Doctor Leelo Bush. I'm a master coach, author, curriculum creator, and the number one authority on Spirit-led Christian coaching. I've trained tens of thousands worldwide since 2003. And if you are ready to uplevel your skills, find greater fulfillment, and employ the most powerful coaching available to mankind, let's go.

Welcome to the Christian Coaching School podcast. I'm your host, Doctor Leelo Bush, and I'm so glad you're here with me today. Whether you're a long-time listener or if this is your first time joining us, you are in the right place. This is where we talk about Christian coaching, counseling, and life transformation from a biblical perspective, always with practical tools you can use right away.

Today's episode is one I know will encourage you, because we're talking about overcoming the fear of starting, or what I call breaking the start barrier. Sometimes we can identify it as it's happening, and sometimes it happens unconsciously. But I believe any of us can fall victim to this. If you've ever had a God-given dream, an idea, or a goal you couldn't seem to begin, you're in the right place. This episode is going to help you move past fear, silence those voices that say you're not ready, and step forward in faith with courage.

Starting anything new often feels like skydiving without a parachute. Our brains are wired to keep us safe, not to make us successful. That primitive part of our mind would rather you stay right where you are—comfortable, familiar, predictable. It's why your heart races and your inner voice starts shouting, “Danger!” the moment you think about beginning something new. I'll admit I've done the same thing. I delayed writing my first book for months because I told myself I didn't have the time to do it right. The truth? I had the time to do whatever was important to me, just like you do. I just hadn't made it a priority. And once it became a priority, I got it done.

You might be familiar with my book, The Comprehensive Christian Coach Handbook. It's gotten great reviews, and now it's in its second edition. In case you'd like to read it, you can find it on Amazon and lots of other booksellers. You can either search the title or my name to find it, and I'll also put a link in the show notes for you.

But here's the reality. Everybody feels constrained by something. In my case, it was lack of time. You might not feel ready for other reasons. Even those among us who look fearless on the outside have to battle that same dread. And let me be real with you—this message is for me as much as it is for you. You may know I've been in the online education industry for over 22 years now. Over that time, I've created programs, trained thousands, and built a strong institution. Since 2003, we have been early adopters in Christian coaching and creators of the Flow Spirit-led coaching model, and so much more.

But here's something you probably don't know. There has been one particular piece of software I've had my eye on for nearly that entire time, and never fully mastered. Because of that, we haven't always grown to our full potential. Now, don't get me wrong—we are thriving and strong. But this one missing piece has been like a puzzle with only one corner done. Well, this past weekend I finally decided it was time. I immersed myself in learning it. Yes, I could have hired someone to do it, and I'm sure that would have been easier. But I believe at the core we need to understand the systems we rely on so that if something goes wrong, we can troubleshoot with confidence.

And here's the good news. After nearly two decades of delay, it's finally complete. It's a major milestone that will make a huge difference in our reach. But I share these stories with you for a reason—because we all share the same challenges with starting. And sometimes, like me, we can put it off for months or years, even decades, when deep down we know it's important.

My prayer for you is that your thing doesn't take 20 years to conquer like mine did. And this is where I love to lean on God's Word. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.” Isn't that liberating? You don't have to start alone. God is right there with you at the starting line, ready to support you when you obediently step into your calling.

And speaking of stepping into what God has called you to do, this is exactly why I am so passionate about equipping you to serve with confidence in your calling. Right now is enrollment season for our Christian coaching, counseling, and specialty coaching training and certification programs. These are the very courses that give you the skills, tools, and credentials to help others create transformation while growing in your own walk and purpose. If you've been feeling that nudge from the Lord to step forward in your calling, this is the perfect time to say yes. You can find all the details and enroll today at pccca.org/courses. Let's get you trained, certified, and ready for God to promote you to make an even greater kingdom impact.

Now let's talk about what fear of starting can look like in our everyday lives. Because it doesn't just make you hesitate. It whispers lies that sound almost believable. Fear tells you you're not ready, so you wait, thinking you'll start when you're smarter, richer, thinner, or more prepared. But here's the truth—readiness is not something that comes before the journey. It's something that develops along the way.

Fear also says you need to know everything before you begin. But life doesn't work like a GPS that shows you the entire route. More often, God gives you just the next turn. You step out, and then the path ahead becomes clear. Action brings clarity. Waiting only brings more waiting and missing out on opportunities. And then there's the big one: “If you fail, it'll be a disaster.” Fear paints the worst-case scenario—people will laugh, you'll lose everything. But failure isn't final. It's actually a learning experience. Either we succeed or we learn something. It's sometimes even more valuable than succeeding right away. It builds character and demonstrates your obedience to God.

I didn't understand this when I was young. Each time I would try and fail at something, I would suffer with failure shame, when it was actually part of my growth into the person I am today. Not a bad thing at all, but because I didn't know that then, I wasted a lot of time worrying about it. Thankfully, it didn't stop me from trying. The truth is, most of the time nobody is even paying attention as closely as you think, and when you stumble, it's feedback—not the end. Fear exaggerates. It invents stories that are bigger than reality. It's like a bad fortune teller that never gets it right, yet we keep listening. The good news is, we don't have to believe those lies anymore.

So if fear is whispering lies, how do you break through and finally begin? The first step is to shrink the action down to something so small it's almost laughable. If you want to write a book, type a single sentence. If you want to run a marathon, put on your sneakers and walk to the mailbox. Small steps disarm fear because they're hard to argue with.

The second key is to stop keeping it to yourself. Fear loves silence. It thrives in isolation. But the moment you speak your goal out loud—whether to a trusted friend, a mentor, or even in a small online group—you begin to create accountability. Suddenly, you're not just thinking about it. You're moving toward it.

And third, remember momentum. Think of fear like a huge boulder sitting in the road. The hardest part is moving it that first inch. But once it starts rolling, you don't need nearly as much effort to keep it going. Your job isn't to move the boulder a mile today. It's just to nudge it forward an inch. One inch today, another tomorrow. And before long, fear is no longer in charge.

One of my favorite tools is what author Mel Robbins calls the Five-Second Rule. You count down: five, four, three, two, one—and then you act. You don't debate. You don't overthink. You just move. And that tiny action, taken quickly, often opens the door for a bigger breakthrough.

Breaking what I call the start barrier isn't about erasing fear. It's actually about refusing to let fear have the loudest voice in the room. You'll never feel completely ready. I don't, and you don't have to. Courage is not the absence of fear. It's choosing to move forward in spite of it. And once you begin, momentum takes over.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” Notice it doesn't say wait until you have the perfect plan or the perfect resources. It says commit. Start. Step out in faith. And as you do, God moves pieces into place that you could never have arranged on your own.

So here's my challenge for you today: don't wait for the perfect Monday, or the perfect circumstances, or the perfect plan. Take one small step toward the thing God has been nudging you to do. Just one. Maybe it's sending that email, or opening a notebook, or making a phone call, or visiting our courses page. Whatever it is, don't overthink it. Just start. Because the sooner you begin, the sooner you'll see God multiply your efforts.

And remember, I'm saying this to myself just as much as I'm saying it to you. This is a message I need too. But together we can stop waiting, stop delaying, and start walking forward into the calling God has for us.

I'm Doctor Leelo Bush, and you've been listening to the Christian Coaching School podcast. Use what you learned today and carry it into the lives of those who need it most. And I'll meet you in the next episode.

Before you go, I want to personally invite you to join our private Facebook group, The Courageous Christian Coaching Tribe. This is where bold, Spirit-led coaches and aspiring coaches gather to grow, get equipped, and stay encouraged. Inside you will find exclusive tips, training, supportive community, and the kind of kingdom-minded conversations you just can't find anywhere else.

If you're feeling called to coach, or if you want to stay sharp in your calling, this is your place. Our group culture is each one bring one, so invite a friend to join you. The more the merrier. Just go to facebook.com/groups/courageouschristiancoachingtribe. Or just tap the link in the show notes. But don't wait, because the sooner you join, the sooner we can start pouring into you. And I will see you inside the tribe.