Tuesday, September 2, 2014

You're more than your fears

Fears play such a huge part in all our lives. How often does fear hold us back from being who we really were meant to be? From taking on a career or a project we really yearn to start? From saying things we want to speak? From following our dreams and passions?

I like what educator Parker J. Palmer says: "I will always have fears, but I need not be my fears, for I have other places within myself from which to speak and act."

Indeed. We do have other places inside. We do have other qualities that can inspire and give us the confidence to speak and act.

So where in your life is fear holding you back? What wisdom or passion inside can you access to move past the fear? Can you look the fear right in the eye, acknowledge it and move ahead anyway?

I can remember after my divorce having such fears about moving to a large city and putting myself out there to start a career on my own. I really had to acknowledge those fears—and for a long time, I had to rely on family and close friends to inspire and encourage me. I had to "fake it until I could make it." Soon enough, I could draw on my own wisdom and passion to get where I wanted to be. But fears are never gone for all time. They have a tendency to crop up again. Or new fears emerge. So it's not once-and-done. But it becomes easier once you've learned to face fear and dig down inside for those "other places within" from which to act, doesn't it?





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