| Do you let fear rob you of what you really want? | | | | time after I had chosen be fearless, I was invited |
| Are you constantly afraid that bad things will | | | | to go sailing with a friend. I jumped at the chance, |
| happen to you? Do you worry a lot? Have you | | | | and didn't realize until we were out on the water |
| lost sleep over fears about the future? Are you | | | | in the wind and sun that I no longer had a fear of |
| always concerned what others think of you or | | | | water. I am not saying that I had a little |
| afraid you won't measure up? Are you afraid of | | | | trepidation that I chose to ignore. No, I had no |
| failing, looking silly, or embarrassing yourself? | | | | fear whatsoever. Consequently, I had a wonderful |
| I am continually amazed that I encounter so | | | | day sailing on the lake. Another time, I leapt off a |
| many people whose lives are ruled by fear. If you | | | | high pier into deep water without any anxiety at |
| are thinking, well I worry a little, but that's not | | | | all. |
| fear, you'd be wrong. Worry is fear just by | | | | If you are making decisions with fear as a |
| another name. It is believing in and fearing the | | | | guideline, ask yourself what you would do |
| worst. Many people believe that fear is a normal | | | | differently if you were not motivated by fear. |
| part of life and that everyone has fears. You'd be | | | | How would your life look if you refused to let |
| wrong on both of those counts, too. | | | | fear influence you? What is fear preventing you |
| Fear is not a normal part of a healthy, confident | | | | from doing or going after? |
| life. Fear has only one purpose and that is to bring | | | | Take a moment and ask yourself if any of these |
| you down. Fear is your enemy. Think of fear as a | | | | words might apply to you: squeamish, nervous, |
| bad spirit hovering around trying to ruin your life | | | | timid, cautious, frightened. Do you have panic, |
| and you will see it for what it really is. Fear is the | | | | phobia, terror, unease, dread, worry, trepidation, |
| enemy of our souls and our minds. That's why it | | | | angst, anxiety, or 'cold feet'? All of these words |
| is so important to look your fears in the face and | | | | describe fear and you can be free from them all. |
| give them a good slap. | | | | Here's how: First of all, recognize that God loves |
| Some years ago, I made the decision that I | | | | you just the way you are. You don't have to |
| would not be motivated by fear. To do that, I | | | | change or perform a certain way for him to love |
| had to recognize when fear was playing in the | | | | you. He has no conditions for loving you. He just |
| background of my thoughts and attempting to | | | | can't help himself. No matter what you might |
| influence me. Whenever I recognized feelings of | | | | believe about yourself, God believes you are |
| fear I simply refused to pay attention to it. | | | | lovable. |
| Sometimes, I even spoke out loud something like, | | | | Next, ask God to help you to get rid of fears in |
| "Fear, get lost. I won't listen to you." The more I | | | | your life. His idea of a luscious life is a life free of |
| did that, the less fear I experienced. It wasn't long | | | | fear. He will support you when you oppose fear |
| until I found that fears were no longer a part of | | | | and will give you peace when you put your trust |
| my life. | | | | in him. |
| I also discovered that specific fears that had | | | | Then, every time fear raises its ugly head to you, |
| plagued me most of my life disappeared without | | | | give it a good slap and tell it to get lost. Don't let |
| my taking direct aim at them. For example, I had | | | | fear stop you from living a full, confident and |
| always been nervous and scared around deep | | | | luscious life. You really can be fearless. I know, |
| water. I've never been much of a swimmer and | | | | because I am. |
| didn't like being near or on deep water. Some | | | | |