by Scott F.
Paradis
© 2010
http://www.promiseandpotential.com
What
scares you? Heights? Public speaking? Spiders? Crowds? Thunder? Lightning? Pain?
Illness? Death? Clowns? Poverty? Failure? Success? Being alone?
Seemingly
there is no end to what people fear. Fear is a natural formation of emotion designed
to ensure you survive in this physical existence. In our modern society, however,
fear's consequence most often is to resist experience, resist change. The experience
of life seems daunting, unknowable, and at times overwhelming. Life is a journey
of twists and turns, highs and lows, successes and failures. At some point we
realize that by advancing we invite change, we accept risk, we tempt fate and
we know, in its final measure, it doesn't end well.
Once
you realize that the ride is in motion you have two choices: you can embrace the
adventure or try your best to put on the brakes. Fear is the agent of resistance,
the champion of procrastination, the defender of the status quo - despite the
pain this may engender. For many it is better to suffer through the known than
advance into the unknown, for fear conjures up in the unknown every conceivable
nightmare to keep from moving forward, to making the turn, to taking the step.
You see, all fear is, at its core, the dread of letting go.
You
are alive, in this moment, you are breathing, sensing, observing. You have achieved
a degree of stasis - stability in your environment. You are experiencing a degree
of comfort or enduring a bearable measure of discomfort. Despite your best efforts,
however, things will change. This world, this universe, this existence is an ocean
of energy and all energy is in motion, everything is in flux - coming together,
drifting apart. Regardless of your intentions life will change. You are on the
ride, you have jumped into the water - you must journey to the end.
Though
you can't stop the motion you can choose how you experience the twists and turns,
highs and lows, successes and failures. You are the master interpreter. You interpret
your experience of this life. If fact, you have more power than that - you influence
what rises to your awareness. You contribute to drafting the chapters, setting
the scene, designing the ride. You do have a choice. Fear, however, is that trigger
of doubt about any and quite possibly every possibility, opportunity or change.
Fear causes you to cling to what is - for better or for worse. The effect of fear
is to limit your experience, reduce your options and ultimately control your fate.
Fear steals away your ability to choose, to interpret, to create. When fear dominates,
life diminishes.
To free yourself from fear's influence
- face it. Recognize the limiting energy of fear, and expose it to the light of
awareness. By observing fear as an agent of resistance to change, you reduce fear's
influence. Life is change. Life is an adventure - an adventure replete with risks
and rewards. Don't let the dominating power of fear limit your journey. By facing
fear, you can overcome it.
Don't expect to eliminate fear.
The key is to act despite fear. Only then will you retain the power to influence
the journey. You only must do what is necessary, that is, take the next small
step. Life is full, whole and complete, all the time, all around you - you need
not dread what is next. Your life up till now has prepared you for what comes
next. To succeed, overcome what holds you back - that one fear - the fear of change.
