Life Coaching Tip: Confidence does not show up before you take the leap. It shows up because you took it. This week, I’m sharing the story of Connie Casey, a Shine On member who sold her condo, bought an RV, and hit the road to travel the country. Her first “real RV incident day” involved a damaged slide topper, a scary drive down Coastal Highway 1, and a good cry, followed by a list of wins she chose to celebrate anyway. Connie’s journey is a beautiful reminder that confidence is built through mastery, one scary, imperfect step at a time.
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Meet Connie Casey.
I’ve written about Connie before because she has been on one incredible journey over the past several years.
She began coaching with me in 2020 and became part of Shine On in 2021, where she continues to be an active member today.
When we first started working together, Connie struggled to make even small decisions and had very little clarity about what she wanted her life to look like.
Since then, she’s continued to surprise herself with what she is capable of.
Over the past six years, Connie has continued saying yes to bigger and bigger versions of herself. Here are just a few of the highlights:
Connie completed a bodybuilding training program and celebrated that accomplishment with a photo shoot on a mountaintop in Mexico wearing one of those gorgeous, flowing dresses.
She earned her PMP certification while working as a project manager for the Red Cross.
And she also became a Certified Trauma Informed & Restorative Yoga Instructor and created a side practice sharing that work with others.
Yep, she’s a total badass.🙌
And now?
Connie sold her condo, purged her belongings, bought an RV, and headed out on the road to travel the country.
(If that sounds familiar, you might be thinking of another Shine Sister, Ann Winegar, who made a similar journey in 2020. Apparently, there is something about the Shine On community that inspires people to embrace adventure!)
Watching Connie step outside her comfort zone and grow her confidence and self-trust over the years has been freaking awesome.
But what I love most is that she didn’t become confident because her journey was always easy. She became confident because she kept showing up even when it wasn’t.
And her latest adventure has given her plenty of opportunities to practice.
A few months into her RV experience, Connie had what she called her first “real RV incident day.”
A tree literally jumped out in front of her while she was driving. (Okay, perhaps that’s not actually true, but it is the way I’m always going to tell it.😉)
Here’s what Connie shared afterward.
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Today was officially my first real RV incident day. A tree, just outside my periphery got in my way! I had a mini meltdown, a solid crying session, and one of those “what in the actual hell am I doing?” moments after damaging my slide topper/roller assembly, which had to be removed, an insurance claim filed, and now waiting for next steps for repair. Then I still had to pull myself together and drive to my next stop up the coast at Westport Beach.
And let me just say… the drive to this little beach RV park in Northern California was not for the faint of heart. Coastal Highway 1 in a 32-foot RV with a tow dolly? Jesus, take the wheel, the mirrors, the brakes, and my entire nervous system.
When I finally arrived, I discovered the sewer connection at my site is about 4–5 feet farther than my sewer hose will reach. By the time I finished setting up, the office was closed, so tonight’s plan is: military shower, minimal bathroom use, and tomorrow morning I’ll see if they have a sewer hose extension.
But today still had big wins:
• Only my slide topper and roller assembly were damaged, and my slide still works!
• I arrived safely, even after driving Coastal Highway 1 in a 32-foot RV with a tow dolly, which deserves its own trophy, parade, and nervous system reset. (I did so much breath work on this drive today.)
• Even though my sewer hose does not reach, my site is actually very lovely and private.
• I have Starlink set up, so I can work without issue.
• My RV neighbor Greg, along with the RV park manager and another resident, were amazing today helping me, supporting me, and talking me through the chaos.
• Multiple friends and family members encouraged me and helped steady me when my confidence was shaken after my very unfortunate encounter with the tree.
Today was hard. I cried. I panicked a little. I kept going anyway. And honestly, that counts and I’m taking the win!
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When I read Connie’s words, I immediately thought about how often we misunderstand confidence.
We tend to think confidence must magically appear before we act on our wild, audacious ideas.
We imagine that one day we’ll finally feel ready, brave, and certain enough to take the leap.
But that is not how confidence works.
Confidence is built in moments exactly like this one.
It is built when you’re scared and you do the thing anyway.
It is built when you have a moment of panic, collect yourself, and keep moving forward.
It is built when you look back and realize, “Wait a minute. I just did something I wasn’t sure I could do.”
Connie and I were messaging before she got back behind the wheel, and I shared with her that I get nervous driving my little car through big cities like Chicago. So, when I heard she had navigated a 32-foot RV through San Francisco during rush hour, I knew she was absolutely capable of handling this challenge too.
Later, she told me my “chicken sh*t” driving story ran through her head as she drove those miles and made her giggle.
I’m always happy to contribute in whatever way I can.🤭
What I hope you take from Connie’s story is this:
You don’t have to wait until you feel confident to take the next step.
Confidence actually comes from mastery.
And mastery comes from taking the next step over and over again.
Maybe your version of Connie’s tree moment is not an RV adventure. Maybe it is having a difficult conversation, acting on a crazy idea, making a change you have been thinking about, or choosing yourself in a way you never have before.
Whatever your version looks like, remember Connie.
You can be scared.
You can question yourself.
And you can still keep going.
That is how confidence is born.
Xo Tracy
PS – If you are curious about what it would feel like to be surrounded by a tribe of women like Connie—who are willing to grow, stretch, and cheer one another on—I invite you to explore the Shine On community. Registration opens in October, but you can read more about the experience and hear from other members here: MORE ABOUT SHINE ON!
PPS – If you’re driving around town today, be careful of jumping trees. It’s scary out there!🤣
The Room Was Full of Gold