How to Overcome the Fear Factor

Then he asked them, Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith? - Jesus (The Christ)

     I often ask people what their ambitions are. "What do you want to become?" I ask. Nine out of ten times I get answers like, "Economist," or "Banker," or "Lawyer," or the popular one – "Doctor". In all of these cases I push and ask, "What would you like to become if you knew you would absolutely succeed?" In other words I ask what ambition the person would have if he cannot fail? Seven out of ten times I get answers like, "Fashion designer," or "Singer," or "musician," or the surprising of all – "Dancer," from the same folks that chose the earlier "respectable" ones. 

    What this reveals to me is that the real reason the person mentioned the initial ambition was not necessarily because he desired to achieve it but because he was instructed by fear! It was fear – the fear of not making enough money to make ends meet – that led to the first choice.

Daily, folks are moved by fear into decisions. Fear of failure, of heights, of lack, of …death, push us into making decisions that sometimes define the whole of our lives and that of loved ones. What fears are pushing you?

     Fear cripples. I once chased a dear lizard to a wall and though walls are no limitations to lizards, this one repeatedly tried and failed to climb over. It could not climb because it was crippled by fear. What fears are crippling you?

   Fear lies. It never tells you what you can be. Rather, it sings to you stories of what you are not. Soon you begin to tell yourself those stories. Choose who you listen to.

   Some things we are afraid of do not exist! They feel like they do, look like they do, even smell like they do but the moment you approach them they fizzle away. I came across these timeless words: "Fear knocked on my door, faith answered and there was no one there."

   You will not succeed as you should if you remain as afraid as you are. You must dare! You must take the offensive! You must be bold – bold as a lion!

  Courage has never been the absence of fear. It is taking action irrespective of internal fears. Develop courage. All courageous people are fearful people that are taking actions nonetheless.