FEAR - Friend or Foe?

Fear...it's an interesting word if you think of it. It's one of those words that elicits certain feelings based on experience. I often think of things that are either scary or too risky to partake in. Fear also often allows us to think that there are barriers in front of us that don't exist even though we think they do.

Recently, I've had a handful of conversations about fear with business owners and networking colleagues. I've learned that there is a big fear of commitment and accountability even when that isn't even the true issue. I think I've narrowed it down to a couple key thoughts. Let me know what you think. 

If our experience in life so far predicates whether or not we should try something new, make a commitment, decide to operate an alternative way or choose a new way to act, how likely will we be able to accomplish these things if our experience was negative or bad? In most cases, we will not take the risk because it would be better to just have what we have. There is confidence in knowing what you know because you will then get what you are used to getting. It's safe to move forward this way.

Fear and our past learning set the tone for what we will see for our future. Is this accurate?

I find the challenge to this is that many times we allow fear to guide us based on what happened in the past. Rear-view mirror syndrome perhaps? What would happen if we starting looking out at the horizon and embraced a different result through new experiences? What if all of the things we didn't know were just waiting for us to embrace and immerse ourselves in so our lives could be what we decided them to be?  I would call this the fear of success. 

Perhaps the real fear if that we don't dream big enough. We don't have goals large enough to keep us focused on them. Maybe we don't know what plans to make and what actions need to be taken because we've never written them down and shared them with anyone. Maybe we haven't done this because we'd have to commit to them? What do you think? 

The beauty of fear is that it can be our best friend or our biggest foe. It's in our own individual perspective and belief system that the true answer lies. What would happen if we started to use fear as our fuel? How can fear create desire to overcome the status quo and achieve greatness in areas where we seek improvement? When has the fear of actually succeeding at something that you've never accomplished before scared you, yet exhilarated you at the same time when you finally did it and made it and completed it? Do you remember how that felt? It's a rush and potentially addictive. Why wouldn't we want more of that feeling than the feeling of the same old same old?

In everything we are allowed to decide or choose in our lives, whether its personal, interpersonal, professional or the like, ultimately, its our choice. Will you continue to choose based on what you've already experienced and allow fear to continue blocking your potential? Or, will you choose to befriend the fear of success and the unknown and use it to plan your dreams and goals yet to come? It will be interesting to see how you continue to write the pages of your story. Will it end without a dynamic plot or will it be filled with adventure, suspense and memories too numerous to count?

The cool part is you get to choose...what's it going to be?

Please comment below your take on this topic and join the conversation. Or please email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.

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