21 Aug What if Fear was not to be Feared?

I recently returned from my company’s yearly convention.  I had an absolutely awesome time, met wonderful people, learned enough to make my head burst and was so fortunate to experience the gathering of thousands of people who live in positivity and care for others.  It was absolutely inspiring.  My biggest take-away from this convention, however, went far deeper than the great, yet largely superficial feelings.

As I lay in bed one night, thinking about the words that I’d heard that day at the convention, I came to the shocking and humbling realization that I was living in fear.

The idea of living in fear was initially ridiculous to me.  I pride myself in being a strong person, overcoming my fears and attaining any goal I set out to achieve.  In fact, I am acutely aware how each major accomplishment in my life was preceded by fear.  Yet, each time, I overcame it.  I learned that each time I faced the fear, it lost its’ power and I gained another level of freedom.  So how, at this stage of my life, could I still be living in fear?!

I have always viewed fear as a sign of weakness, insecurities and failings – everything that I despise.  But in reality, fear is simply a barrier that stands in front of each of our plans, our dreams and our growth.  It is a chain that keeps us from soaring to the heights that we were intended to reach; a quicksand that swallows us as we hesitate to move forward.  We encounter fear each time we dare to  dream a little bigger, as we push our horizons a little higher.  We meet fear when we are faced with personal growth or the chance to improve ourselves and our condition.

What if Fear was not to be Feared?

So it occurred to me as I lay there, what if fear was not to be feared?  Fear should not be viewed as a weakness but rather as an opportunity.  If fear is indeed standing in front of each potential for growth and development, maybe I should be searching for my fears!  Maybe I should be hunting for the chance to face fears, to eliminate their power and to move on to greater growth!

As long as we are cowering in the face of fear, we will never grow.  I’ve spent far too much time like this.  I’ve made so many excuses and experienced so much frustration because I wasn’t willing to admit that maybe my greatest excuses were because of my greatest fears.

So who is willing to step up and face their fears?  Who will join me in crossing the barrier standing between us and our dreams?