Fear

Fear is a primitive response that is critical to our survival.  Our brain is designed with a type of fear alarm system called the amygdala (two little almond-shaped parts in the middle of our brain). As humans, our brain has grown, evolved, and become more complex, but this alarm system has not changed. Fear is a natural and necessary response to physical and emotional danger.  If our ancestors did not have this alarm system to tell them when to fight or flee, they would not have survived and you would not be reading this article.  While fear still keeps us alive and (mostly) away from dangerous situations it is often triggered for psychological reasons that have nothing to do with lethal threats.  Sometimes fear keep us from personal growth and achieving our full potential.

Looking at your fears, take a quick inventory in your head of what you are afraid of.   Heights is often at the top of the list.  For those who cannot swim, open water is usually on the inventory.  What else makes your list?  Wild animals? Spiders? Rejection? Pain? Flying? Public Speaking? Relationships? People? Tomatoes? 

Fears are thoughts that we create based on experiences either that we have had, or others have had and have imprinted onto our minds. These fears are created, perpetuated, and held in our minds.  When these fears become too intense, we develop anxieties and find our fears crippling our progress.

If we give in and accept our fears, we cannot grow.  We are stopped in our tracks.  Fear of failure, for example, is common in varying degrees. It keeps people from progressing in their careers, relationships, commitments.  People who exhibit this fear tend to undervalue their self-worth. They tend to stay in dead-end jobs, stay in bad marriages, take the hand that's dealt to them.  Accepting life as is and not daring to risk failing so why bother, why try?  How about fear of rejection?  I'm not good enough anyway… I can't do that job, I don't have the credentials or experience and they won't like me anyway…

So frustrating, right?  We all know someone like this.  Maybe it’s you?  Maybe you need a little push? Maybe you need a little self-confidence?  Realize that the fear you carry with you is probably not physical danger.  Your fear is made up in your head.  You can change your thinking and let go of whatever trauma you hold on to that makes the fear so real – so tangible – so part of your life. 

Sometimes we need help from others to work through our fears and our limiting beliefs.  Sometimes we need a trusted mentor to show us the way, to gently guide us on our journey and break free of these fear chains we have grown to accept as part of our lives.   What are you afraid of?  What are the limiting beliefs in your head that are holding you back from achieving your full potential? What are you doing to change those beliefs?