#37 - Facing Fear

"What would you do if you weren't afraid" Spencer Johnson from the book "Who Moved My Cheese?" Admittedly, there are times when fear is warranted and can serve you, like when your life is in mortal danger. However, the type of fear I'm talking about is the kind that stops you cold from getting what you really want. The kind that paralyzes you from taking action on what you need to grow and develop. The variety of fear that holds you back and restricts and keeps you from experiencing life to it's fullest.

Usually people are most fearful of the unknown. No matter if they are living in their own personal version of hell or close enough they can see it from where they live. Some of us would rather stick with that because, hey, at least they know what that feels like and they've become accustomed to it on a level they can stand. Maybe they feel like they have too many obligations to family, career, etc. and they don't want to chance it or they simply feel trying to better their lot in life is "unrealistic". Even if it's a straight jacket to their potential, they reason at least it's a straight jacket that's familiar and comfortable.

Growing up, that's kind of how my Dad was. He once literally said to me "if you never get your hopes up about anything, at least you can't be dissapointed about what you get". Say what?! What the heck does that mean? And he was serious! No wonder he wasn't a motivational speaker.

There's a vast difference between good, healthy risk-taking based on confidence in yourself and your abilities and being naive and reckless. Setting a goal, or trying something new outside of your comfort zone, is all a part of growth and learning about life and your capabilities. And stretching them gradually, facing the fear maturely, realizing that each failure brings valuable experience you couldn't acquire by not attempting something outside your current skill set. This experience allows you to re-adjust your approach and eventually grasp your success as you use the lessons you've gathered. So ask yourself: what would I do, be, attempt, if I wasn't afraid?