I've never met anyone who wasn't afraid of something. I have
encountered those who claim they aren't scared of anything but upon deeper
introspection, they realize that there are things in life that they worry about
or that concern them. (Both worry and
concern are milder forms of fear.) There are some common fears that the general
population agrees upon: losing someone you love, becoming unemployed, street violence, death, war,
terrorism, financial issues, natural disasters, speaking in public, being
rejected by those who are important to you, and so on.
When I was a teenager, I took horseback riding instructions
from a former NYC police sergeant, James Gannon. Horses are very sensitive
creatures and pick up on the emotions of the rider. Any fear a rider is experiencing
will be communicated to their mount and the animal will react. This could have
devastating consequences for both rider and
equine. Therefore, for the safety of both, the rider must remain
confident and secure at all time. Sarge explained that there were two types of
fear: rational and irrational. Rational fear are those issues where there is a legitimate
concern for our safety and well-being. Having someone point a gun at your face
while demanding the contents of your
wallet is a rational fear. Hearing your
smoke alarm sound in the middle of the night is judicious. These kinds of
concerns trigger our innate survival instincts and put us in a fight or flight
mode. They are designed to keep us safe and alive.
Irrational fears, however, can wreak havoc in our lives.
They are based on erroneous perceptions that limit us from experiencing life to
the fullest. The "what if's" are a perfect example. Not fact based,
they originate from assumptions leading to a perceived devastating outcome.
"What if my boyfriend breaks up with me?" "What if I can't lose
this weight?" "I'm afraid of bugs." There is no solid basis for our
concerns and upon closer examination, these fears can be logically explained
and dismissed.
While most people hold an outside circumstance or individual
responsible for their fear, when analyzed deeper, we find that the real cause
of our fear is wondering if we will be ok with our new circumstances. If I
truly believe that I can survive the breakup of a relationship, then while I
may prefer that it never occur, should the inevitable happen I am confident
that I will survive and even emerge stronger. If I think I may lose my job due
to downsizing but feel secure that God has something better planned for me,
then I can rest easy knowing
unemployment is merely a crossover to a better life.
So the underlying cause of our worry is not in the set of circumstances
themselves. It is the level of confidence we have in our own resourcefulness
and determination. Therefore, the more one believes in their own competency,
the less worry, fear, and anxiety they will experience and the greater their
level of overall enjoyment in life. On a deeper level, fear is a lack of trust
in God. When one fully knows that God is forever with us, providing all we need
to face our current circumstance, that each challenge brings us to a deeper
understanding of life and ourselves, accesses untapped strengths and internal
resources, and strengthens our relationship with our Creator. Knowing this, we
can live with confidence and in peace.
Believe in yourself. Believe
in God. Draw upon Him for all of your strength and valor. Let go of fear. You
are far more competent than you realize. You are already equipped to survive
and thrive from whatever unexpected challenges life puts in your path. And with
each unforeseen challenge, your relationship with your Creator will be taken to
a deeper level and that is the greatest outcome of all.
To order a copy of The Secret Side of Anger or The
Great Truth visit http://www.pfeifferpowerseminars.com/pps1-products.html
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