Fear is one of the greatest obstacles in life. It influences our choices, taints our thoughts and beliefs, and hinders our ability to take action. But do you even know which fears are embedded in your thoughts, beliefs, and choices? If you are not aware of the fears affecting you, it can be difficult to create change or achieve your desired results.
Some people think living recklessly means being fearless. Others go bungee jumping to face their fear of heights or speak in front of a crowd to overcome their fear of public speaking. If that helps, fine, but these are not the greatest fears that affect most people on an unconscious level. The fears that cause most people inner resistance or block them from achieving their potential are such things as a fear of not being good enough or a fear of failure.
Joseph Campbell once said, “The very cave you are afraid to enter turns out to be the source of what you are looking for.” This underscores the need to recognize and face the fears that affect our choices and behaviours. What change are you avoiding because you are afraid? There is also a question I sometimes ask my coaching clients, from the parable "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson: What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Some believe that fears keep them safe, but I believe a clearly defined personal philosophy and well-developed intuition are better guides than fear. The problem with fear is not fear itself; it is usually our response to fear that undermines us. Learning to better respond to fear is what it means to overcome it.
I try to recognize the fear in all that I think and do, in my reactions to other people, and in the choices I make to avoid certain outcomes. I simply ask myself: is this choice, thought, or belief based in fear? If I identify a fear that regularly affects me, I try to work through it myself, and occasionally I get coaching or speak to a therapist for support. Overcoming your fears can be the most liberating experience in life, leading to greater success and happiness.
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