Everyone is scared of something. Children are afraid of the dark. Teenagers are afraid of acceptance and peer pressure. College students are afraid of the massive job force that awaits them and where they fit into it. Adults are afraid of so many things…failure, commitment, love, and even success. The funny thing is adults are the least likely to admit their fears. Fear is a catch 22 emotion. It can hinder your progression and propel you forward all at the same time. The question is which direction will you allow fear to sway you?
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to hear actor/author Hill Harper speak at a company event for my job. I didn’t expect much, but his speech was a pleasant surprise. The premise of his topic was fear and how we allow it to hold us back. One of his quotes that he stated has still stuck with me. He didn’t coin this phrase, but it was very profound nonetheless (and it was my first time hearing it). “Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real”. Basically, what this means is that fear is nothing more than an illusion. We get so worked up behind the illusion, that we lose sight of the reality. Because of fear, we believe that we will fail. We will lose. We will die. We will be defeated. We will be left all alone. We will not succeed. And yes, all of these things are possible and can happen…if we think ourselves into that negative space. But what about the flip side of fear that says we are victorious? We are loved. We are winners. We are blessed. We are worthy.
Failure is not the worst thing that can happen to us. It can actually be the beginning of something beautiful. So what if you fail? You learn, get up, try again or try something new if that doesn’t work. We should never let fear hold us back, only push us forward. Is this easier said than done? YES! In case you’re wondering how I came up with this blog, it’s because I have had some fearful thoughts recently in regards to releasing my 2nd book and starting school again in the Spring of next year. But one things is for sure, if we let fear stop us from turning on the engine to drive to our dreams, we’re sure to never get anywhere. Turn on the reality of something great and turn off the F.E.A.R.!
What are you fearful of and how do you overcome it?
Peauxetic Expressions 