Fear can be a crippling thing.
I read an amazing book recently that helped put some things into perspective for me in regards to fear. I highly recommend You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero if anyone is looking for a fun, uplifting, filled with awesome perspective read.
Jen says that fear is a choice, and that struck me. I never truly considered that before. I always thought that fear was a feeling, but looking at it as a choice changed things for me. Fear was stunting my growth and I was allowing it. Did I know this before?! I’m not sure, perhaps in a different light, but it’s entirely possible I didn’t understand it fully. The important thing is that I do now.
When we allow ourselves to succumb to fear, we are putting limitations on ourselves. We allow ourselves to remain stagnant, thereby inhibiting our growth. We are choosing to let fear run the show and dictate what we do, and when we do it. This is why some people never achieve their dreams.
I’m not saying you should ignore your fear of walking down a dark alley by yourself....that’s definitely not a fear to let go of, especially since that’s how horror movies start. I’m saying that you need to be more discerning about fear, how it effects you, and why you’re choosing to allow it.
Fear can be a tough thing to conquer for most people. I don’t even think we realize how much fear is in our every day because it’s so normal to us. But once our eyes are open to it, we have an opportunity to make a change, and that change is to face those fears head on. Yes, it’s terrifying. Yes, it’s painful. But you’ll quickly realize that the more you face your fears head on, the less you’ll fear. That repetitive action of pushing through your fears will build your confidence and start to dissipate those fears. Fear is one of the greatest illusions. Do your best not to fall for it!
You don’t have to be afraid. All you need is right within you. Believe in yourself. Don’t allow your fear to cripple you and hold you hostage in your own life because that’s no way to live.
I’m guilty of it, and I’m working on it....one step at a time. And so can you.....
On the other side of fear is peace. Peace comes when we learn to set ourselves free of our fear.
