Four Letter Word

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

There is a four letter word – that starts with an F….and it’s really powerful.  No, it’s not that one, that ends with a K (although that word feels good to say sometimes doesn’t it?)  The word is Fear.

Fear.

Although it’s an unassuming little word, it’s a master at its game.  Fear is the mask that blinds us, the chain that immobilizes us.  And although it is part of our nature – our species – to feel fear as a means of physical protection, it is the emotional and imagined fears that wreak havoc in our lives.

I had 3 thoughts as I fell asleep last night….

Fear the Fear.
Feel the Fear.
Face the Fear.

Fear the Fear – What seems interesting to me here is that we should fear fear.  Fear is the one thing that keeps us from moving forward.  We have these fear tapes playing in our heads – we are afraid to do so many things because we fear rejection and pain.  And the funny thing is, since we can’t predict the outcome of events, we are simply projecting – from our imaginations.  It’s not real.  Fear keeps us in its grip….good reason to fear fear itself.

Feel the Fear – Feeling the fear can make it powerless.  Embracing our fears and accepting them for just that, that we are afraid of something, is one way to deal with them and move forward.  I went to a seminar years ago that discussed the book, “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway”….which pretty much says it all.  Feel it….and do it.

Face the Fear – Now, here is the tricky part.  You can be afraid of fear and feel the fear, but can you face the fear?  Facing it will make it disappear….because you will make it through the other side.  And then you will see that fear has no hold over you, no legs to stand on.  Facing our fears – whether they be anything from going to the dentist to opening our hearts to love, will make us stronger and happier.

I am trying to practice these ideas…to identify what makes me afraid, find its source, feel it and face it.  It is not a walk in the park but more like an obstacle course.  But it’s worth it.