Does the thought of doing hard things scare you? Even a little bit… especially if the hard thing you want to do is meaningful and significant to you.
Do you know what I notice about choosing to do hard things?
Self-doubt shows up right on queue.
It doesn’t whisper; it is persistent.
It taps you on the shoulder, saying, “Are you sure?”
After being diagnosed in 2022 with a rare neurological eye condition called blepharospasm, a form of focal dystonia, I quietly told myself a story I never wanted to believe: that my triathlon days might be over.
Self-doubt showed up wearing a lab coat and a helmet.
It sounded logical. Responsible. Even protective.
I kept thinking… swim… bike… run.
When I thought about the bike, it got louder.
I knew that when I got going on my road bike, my eyes would spasm and close for 10-15 seconds, and I would veer to the right. Right toward the ditch!
When it first started, my eyes would close up to 40 seconds – there was no bike riding then.
I started longing for the road.
The skinny tires of my beautiful road bike.
The cadence.
The speed.
The wind.
Was it all over?
It wasn’t until I had a brief conversation with Canada’s First Olympic Gold Medalist in Cycling, Lori-Ann Muenzer, that my hope for participating in a triathlon was renewed. I had not competed in a triathlon for nearly 10 years, and here I was, eager to do it again. I shared my predicament with her. We talked about the power of the mind, visualization, and the world of possibility. These types of conversations excite me! Even though I coach my own clients on mindset, sometimes you are too close to the situation to see it for yourself. This conversation is where the shift began.
She expanded my thinking.
Tandem Bike? Well, that has never been done before?
Exactly.
There is always an opportunity to be the first. It’s called trailblazing.
That is what happens when you do hard things – you start blazing a path not only for yourself, but for others to follow.
Self-doubt was jumping up and down, trying to get my attention. Over here!!! See me over here!
It asked, “What if you can’t control it?”
“What if you put yourself or someone else at risk?”
“What if this proves everyone else right?”
And then there was Yes You Can.
One of the most inclusive triathlons I have ever been part of.
Not just in words—but in spirit.
Their message was simple and radical:
Everyone is welcome. Any skill. Any ability. Period.
In that space, something shifted. I had reached out to Cheryl Schneider, Owner of No Excuses Fitness and Organizer of the Yes You Can Triathlon. I expressed my desire to participate and requested to have someone ride behind me in the triathlon to ensure I did not veer off course. She said, “Yes!” without hesitation. I had built up all this fear and was not going to ask for fear of rejection. How often are we our own “No”? Rejecting ourselves before even seeing what is possible.
Doing hard things takes courage. You are braver than you think.
The day of the triathlon came. (June 2025) It had been raining throughout the night and the morning.
The roads were slick.
The sky was cloudy.
What a metaphor for my health journey.
Self-doubt was still there.
It didn’t magically disappear.
But it stopped running the show.
Because this wasn’t about performance.
It wasn’t about pace or podiums.
It was about participation.
Choice.
And identity.
I wasn’t choosing certainty.
I was choosing possibility.
I wasn’t waiting to feel confident.
I was moving with self-doubt in the room.
That day reminded me of something I now teach and live by:
Courage isn’t the absence of self-doubt.
It’s deciding that self-doubt doesn’t get to make the final call.
And here’s the truth I want people to hear:
Self-doubt often shows up right when you’re doing something meaningful.
Something aligned.
Something that matters.
Not to stop you—
But to see if you’ll let it.
It is a test to see if you are ready to own your power!
Because you see, you have done hard things before.
The greater the challenge, the greater the reward.
The WIN of not letting self-doubt call the shots.
Knowing you can do hard things.
Understanding what is hard for one person may not be hard for others.
What is your hard, is your hard. No two hards are the same.
See it in your mind.
Feel it in your heart.
Believe in your soul – you are meant to do hard things.
Regardless of the hard, when you conquer it. You feel UNSTOPPABLE!
Debra Kasowski is a two-time TEDx speaker, executive coach, three-time bestselling author, and host of The Millionaire Woman Show podcast. With a background in healthcare leadership and a passion for personal mastery, she helps high-achieving professionals silence self-doubt, lead with confidence, and take bold, intentional action. Currently pursuing her Master’s in Organizational Leadership, Debra blends real-world experience with evidence-based strategies to empower others to live and lead with purpose. A triathlete and resilience advocate, she inspires others to push beyond perceived limits and embrace the power of choice. Learn more at www.debrakasowski.com.
