“We avoid risks in life… So we can make it safely to death.” -Anonymous
Bravery does not consist of being fearless. Bravery is being full of fear, embracing it, moving toward what we fear most and DOING IT ANYWAYS.
A considerable difference between the way I lived life previously and how I live today, is I’ve allowed fear to become a personal and positive driving force in my life. In the past, fear literally held me captive and left me feeling paralyzed in all sorts of various states of extreme distress, disorder, panic, tension and anxiety. I felt helplessly overwhelmed at the mere mention of trying something new or God forbid anything outside my comfort zone,
but today I live a completely different story…
Now any time I feel the sensation of fear arise, I view it as an invaluably opportune moment to move closer toward understanding my life’s purpose and the choices I can make to expand my life in better ways and push myself further into realizing the potential greatness of my capabilities. I no longer freak out. Instead, I pause and check-in with myself and how I am feeling. I silently inquire within, “Why am I actually afraid to do this?” Is it because I believe it would be a big mistake, complete disaster, or that I believe I am not good enough, may face rejection, fail or even succeed? Nine times out ten, the answer I receive has something to do with the type of limiting belief I hold about myself and it’s this belief that churns out the various excuses as to why I cannot do something.
Maybe I was influenced by something I was told as a kid, or an embarrassing moment growing up, or maybe it was just some terrifying story I heard on the news, but whatever the reason, the bottom line is it’s just another bullshit story I tell myself as to why I cannot do something new, challenging and different. It’s another excuse preventing me from achieving all the greatness, happiness, contentment and opportunities available to me and my life RIGHT NOW. The truth is I know the moments I feel fear the most are “bang-on” indications that I am indeed moving in directional flow of where life is meant to take me and I am one step closer to the possibility of realizing my dreams.
One way fear is triggered is through the possibility of new advancements and opportunities. The new situation presents itself and shoots an electric jolt to our comfort zone causing our thoughts to frantically race as the mind attempts to calculate various factors, create fictitious outcomes and compute an infinite amount of usually negative possibilities. Yes, there is a probability things could go wrong, but also an equally greater probability EVERYthing will go RIGHT. Embracing fear brings growth, and by moving towards fears salivating, snarling jaws instead of running away from them, you realize fear cannot bite you, fear can ONLY POSITIVELY TRANSFORM YOU.
Fear is like a muscle and it needs to be flexed. Like anything, whatever is practiced diligently and routinely becomes an integral component of our lives. Where attention flows, energy goes. Same with fear. The more and more we practice embracing our fears instead of running from them, the sooner we discover that all along the cave we so terrifyingly resisted exploring in actuality was precisely the cave we were meant to enter, and there within lies all the treasures and solutions to our deepest needs, wants and desires. Fear doesn’t have to be an intrusive invader, fear can become an ally, another useful, cooperative tool playing on our side instead of something we believe is constantly working against us causing us to feel stuck. Only when not regularly embraced can fear easily overpower, take a forceful lead and limit you from everything your heart truly desires and is fully capable of accomplishing.
How do you know if fear’s in the driver’s seat controlling your life? When fear is in charge, you feel overwhelm, worry and doubt on a regular basis, and notice frequently you wander into the nether-region categorizations of the mind like the: “What if?” “What could happen?” and “WHAT IF I FAIL?” These are surefire indications fear is feasting and slowly but surely consuming you.
It is a choice.
You can easily choose to allow fear to become another source and supply of strength, or just as easily choose continuing to allow your fears to run over you, paralyzing, tormenting you in the process as it distracts you from the potential greatness LIFE DEMANDS OF YOU.
I choose to embrace fear and welcome it as my ally. I choose to embrace life. I choose to embrace fully living now and in this moment.
What will YOU choose?
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