SALT LAKE CITY — Last week I did something scary. I faced the first evening of a pilot program of Faithful, Fit and Fabulous in a new and untested setting. The program was to have nine video segments, which another lady and I had faithfully filmed, and which were hacked and dumped from the hard drive a few days before the first meeting.

Though I've been doing this program in some form for more than 10 years, this was uncharted territory. Although I'd heard many positive anticipatory comments, there had been a few negative ones as well — the type that made me doubt myself and the program’s potential.

The night before the meeting, as I debated my ability to see this through successfully, a clear thought came to me: “Do good.” I took that to mean, “Don't focus on your imperfections, perceived inabilities, or technical issues. Just do good.”

Despite some misgivings, I faced down the fears and spoke at the first evening session. We had anticipated an intimate 50, had copied packets for 75, and ultimately had all 90 seats filled. The women left happy, energized and with excited comments like, "See you next month!"

Do good.

As I've considered those words since, I've thought of the women I know who go about doing good, and who have also had misgivings and self doubts. Like Amy Chandler of My Story Matters at www.mystorymatters.org — an organization dedicated to publishing personal stories of children battling cancer, who have died young, or been adopted — these stories act as keepsakes for them and their caregivers.

Or Jodi Marie Robinson at www.jodimarierobinson.blogspot.com, who, for more than 12 years, has worked at a substance abuse treatment center. On her own, she began by toting her young children and teaching the struggling women principles to increase self-esteem, develop job skills, and even beautify their rooms and future homes.

Neither of these women were experts when they started, and neither feel they are experts now. But meanwhile, they are simply going about doing good.

What good are you doing? How are you sharing it? I'm guessing each one of us is doing good in some way, perhaps in ways we don't realize.

What other kinds of good would you like to be doing? Is there something you'd like to teach, share, or express but have felt too afraid to try? My heartfelt encouragement is to say: Do it. Try it. Fail at it. Then try again. Go ahead and feel embarrassed, but if you're focused on whom you serve, the resulting joy would more than make up for it.

Related:

Back to Basics: Have you tried an 'I'm a Fabulous Mother' list?

Lately, I've been evaluating how I'm doing as a mother (which possibly related to my need for chocolate-covered pretzels). But thankfully, before I could open the bag, I began reading Chieko Okazaki's "Lighten Up" and this fabulous passage:

And formal causes are not required. Pick up litter at a favorite park when you visit. Bring an elderly neighbor's newspaper to their doorstep. Offer to take a friend's child to the same activity, saving her mother an extra trip. Big causes are not necessary — everyday kindnesses definitely count.

If you’re interested, I invite you to consider “doing good” through helping Primary Children's Hospital this month. Although profits from Faithful, Fit and Fabulous are always donated, I’m designating this month's donations to the hospital to be part of their fundraising efforts. All profits from any print or ebook copies will be donated through September 30th to this effort (ebooks at www.amazon.com, print books at www.conniesokol.com).

Whatever your talent, interest, or ability, I encourage you to share it in some way, this week, today, no matter how inept or uncomfortable you may feel. The world can definitely use a little more good. Connie Sokol is an author, presenter, TV contributor and mother of seven. Contact her at www.conniesokol.com.

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