The Fear of fear

Over the past two days we looked at some poems that talked about persevering through the hard times. Good stuff

Today, fear. Just saw a list of the top 10 things we fear in 2010.

Thunder and Lightning
Confined/Open spaces
Dogs
Spiders
Public speaking
Financial ruin
Heights
Flying
Terrorism

I don’t know which one is number 10 or number one, I guess that all depends on your point of view. I have a perspective on some of these.

Thunder and Lightning – also awesome and inspiring. Thunder cant hurt you.

Confined/Open spaces – having been put in a box in POW school when I was in the Marines the confined thing isn’t a big deal. As for open spaces, been on a plane lately? Do that and you will want open spaces

Dogs – We have one

Spiders – Crush them

Public speaking – This is why I have a job

Financial ruin – OK, not a bad one. I have some anxiety about our financial future

Heights – I am not bungee jumping off bridges, and I did fall off a roof in my youth when I was running away from home but fear? No.

Flying – Having been in a helicopter crash that should have killed me when I was in the Marines I am not too concerned about getting on airplanes.

Terrorism – If you fear this you let THEM win, without even doing a thing to you.

OK, let’s look at this. In most cases it isn’t the actual thing we fear it is our reaction to the thing. People aren’t afraid of public speaking..they are afraid of looking stupid in front of coworkers, for example.

All too often we give voice and power to our fears and we defeat ourselves by doing so. I am not saying fear isn’t powerful but you are more powerful, if you choose to be. I am not trying to minimize your fears also. They are yours and as real to you as mine are to me. I simply choose to fight them, kick them, beat them rather than succumb to them. YOU can too.

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