If you find yourself worrying your life away, caught in the endless doom cycles of “what if…” and “why me?” then keep reading.
I just had a conversation with someone who’s authored five books, has donated over $80 million through the Guthrie Jackson Charitable Foundation to fund cures for rare autoimmune diseases, has been inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame by Gloria Steinem, and has even been recognized at the Vatican by the Pope for her advocacy work.
She’s also the founder and CEO of Victoria Jackson Cosmetics, the pioneer behind No Makeup Makeup (huge fan of this makeup, by the way!).
She’s none other than Victoria Jackson herself and her story will inspire you to take a hard look at the fears in your life that hold you back. Because as much as she’s experienced incredible highs, she’s also faced devastating lows—an unstable upbringing, surviving an assault by the pillowcase rapist as a teenager, and her daughter’s heartbreaking diagnosis of NMO, a rare autoimmune disease.
The point of our conversation can be summed up as: we all worry, now what? (Which also happens to be the title of Victoria’s newest book.) If you’re a chronic worry-er, these takeaways are for you.
The Weight of Worry: What Don’t I Worry About?
Victoria’s new book, We All Worry, Now What?, really got me thinking about my own worries. As a business owner responsible for 42 employees, as a wife to a husband I adore, and as a mother to two incredible little boys—worry is a constant presence in my life. I worry about my family, my business, my home, and even things that seem completely out of my control.
But one of the biggest takeaways from our conversation was this: On the other side of fear, there is joy, peace, and sometimes even success and blessings. The bridge between fear and those beautiful things? Action.
Choosing Faith Over Fear
I don’t talk about this often, but my faith is the foundation of my life. I believe in God. I believe in Jesus. I believe in His death and resurrection, and I believe in the power of His Word. I was raised in a Christian home, and I’ve seen God work in miraculous ways.
When I was seven, my family was in a horrific 13-car pileup. Both of my brothers were pronounced dead at the scene. My parents were unconscious, both hospitalized with severe injuries. I was trapped in the car and had to be pulled out by the Jaws of Life. I sat in the back of a police car, watching my family’s limp bodies being pulled from the wreckage. And then, somehow, both of my brothers were miraculously healed—without any medical explanation.
We spent years traveling with the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, sharing the story of their survival. But just a few years later, when I was 13, my mother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. I prayed for a miracle again. I believed with all my heart that she would recover. But she didn’t. She passed away when I was 15.
That loss shook me. It took years to come to terms with the grief and to recognize that, even in loss, I had experienced God’s grace.
Fear of Sharing My Faith
For most of my life, I was afraid to talk openly about my faith. In college, I wanted to fit in, so I kept quiet. In my 20s, I didn’t want to be labeled as judgmental or “too religious.” As I built my career, I worried about making people uncomfortable.
But in 2022, something shifted. I realized that if I was going to be worried about anything in this world, it could not be what people thought about my faith. So I made a decision: I would speak up. I would share what I believe, even if it made me uncomfortable.
I started reading the Bible, cover to cover, for the first time in my life. I hired a life coach. I immersed myself in books by Jenny Allen, Craig Groeschel, and John Mark Comer. I took action.
And here’s what happened:
- My marriage changed.
- My business changed.
- My relationships changed.
- I changed.
The moment I stopped letting fear dictate my actions, everything shifted. And the best part? The more I shared, the more people leaned in—not with judgment, but with curiosity. People started asking questions. Conversations opened up that I never would have been part of before.
What’s on the Other Side of Fear?
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is that when you face your fear head-on, you create space for others to do the same.
So let me ask you:
- What is the thing you’re afraid to do?
- What’s holding you back from taking action?
- What’s the one step you can take today to move past that fear?
Maybe it’s finally launching that business, writing that book, having that difficult conversation, or standing up for what you believe in. Whatever it is, on the other side of fear, there is something beautiful waiting for you.
If this was helpful, you’ll love Victoria’s new book, We All Worry, Now What? and this recap of our conversation on The Influential Personal Brand Podcast.
