Putting Fear in Its Place
by Jack
Canfield
As you move forward on your journey from where you are to where you
want to be, you are going to have to confront some of your fears. Fear is a just
a natural part of living.
Whenever you start a new project, take on a new venture, or put
yourself out there, there's usually some fear involved. Unfortunately,
most people let fear stop them from taking the necessary steps to achieve their
dreams.
Confronting your fears is a very necessary step in
achieving success.
There is simply no other way.
Fear can be a helpful emotion, as it tells you when you need to be
extra careful, keenly aware, and cautious. Fear is not an emotion that is
telling you to stop. In fact, it's telling you just the opposite!
Acknowledging your feelings of fear helps you know when you are
stepping out of your comfort zone. It points your awareness to areas where you
could improve and grow.
Successful people also feel fear. Yet they don't
let it get in the way of anything they want to do--or have to
do. They understand that fear is something to be acknowledged,
experienced, and taken along for the ride. They have learned, as author Susan
Jeffers suggests in her must-read book, to "Feel
the Fear and Do it Anyway."
Fear is more of a signal that we should stay alert and
cautious. We can feel fear, but we can still move forward anyway.
Think of fear as a 2-year-old child who doesn't want to go grocery
shopping with you.
Because you must buy groceries, you'll just have to take the
two year old with you. Fear is no different. In other words, acknowledge that
fear exists but don't let it keep you from doing important tasks.
Also realize that so many of our fears are self-created. We might
frighten ourselves by fantasizing negative outcomes to any activity we might
peruse or experience. Luckily, because we are the ones doing the fantasizing, we
are also the ones who can stop the fear and bring ourselves into a state of
clarity and peace by facing the actual facts, rather than giving in to our
imaginations.
If a fear is too great for you to overcome, try breaking
it down into smaller challenges.
Try starting out by doing the parts of the project that don't
scare you so much. You need to give a speech in front of a large group? Try
giving your speech in front of a small group of people who care for you. Work
your way up until you are able to feel the fear but still move forward. As you
do you will build your confidence and eventually you won't feel fear surrounding
those issues because you'll have done them enough to count it as a skill.
As you move toward your goal, don't attach yourself so
much to the outcomes.
Keep moving toward your dream doing everything you can to create
what you want, then let it go and see what shows up. Sometimes the universe will
have a better idea in mind for you and present a better opportunity when you
were expecting something completely different. Don't let fear keep you from
moving forward. Even if the horrible outcome that you imagined happens, the
universe will always provide for you another way to succeed. So be on the look
out!
Trust that no matter what occurs, you are smart enough and
strong enough to keep looking for, and attracting, opportunities.
If you are willing to try new experiences in spite of your fears,
then more new experiences will present themselves for you to try. And the more
you try, the more you are likely to succeed!
2009 Jack Canfield
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Are you ready to let go of any fears and limiting
beliefs
that are keeping you from living the life you want?
I'll help you erase any misconceptions, fear or
beliefs that you may have run your life up until now, and then give you
the tools to acquire literally anything you want for yourself
when you participate in Breakthrough to Success, August 9-15th!
www.BreakthroughToSuccess.com
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