Thought: Fear Lies—And Here’s Proof
Fear is a universal language we all speak.
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Some of our earliest childhood memories are informed by things we were afraid of or made to fear.
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For a couple of years now I’ve been terrified of needles. And I tried to avoid any situations that involved getting stuck with one.
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Last year my wife asked if we would be getting the yearly flu shot. I refused and told her I didn’t need it. But the truth is I didn’t want to deal with my fear.
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Eventually, she convinced me so I decided to go. She received her shot before me and watching it was even more terrifying.
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It was finally my turn. I was freaking out, but of course I didn’t show it (I think 🥴). I sat down, rolled up my sleeve, and watched nervously as the doctor prepped the shot.
And then it happened, a sharp quick pinch. It was done!
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I thought to myself, that's it? It couldn’t possibly be done. I had played through different scenarios in my mind and the pain I experienced was so minimal. It was clear that the fear I had leading up to that moment resulted from not knowing what to expect.
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I then began to remember that I had gotten shots in the past and they never hurt that much. So why was I afraid?
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My realization is one that most people can relate to. The moment we confront our fears, we discover that they are not as serious as we thought. And this is because our minds no longer have to make up what the possible outcome could be.
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Once we now know what to expect our minds can be at rest.
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Many people have different fears, for some it is the fear of expressing themselves (shameless plug: This week's podcast deals with that - You can watch it here) for others it's the fear of heights, public speaking, clowns, dogs, etc.
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All these fears have the same solution. If you ever want to be free, you must confront your fears. And that looks different for everyone.
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For instance, this year I am confronting the fear of asking. In the past, I felt that by asking a stranger for something, I was being an inconvenience. Well, that has changed. I am sending DMs, cold emails, connection requests, and proposals. Now I know that the worst-case scenario is they say No or don't respond.
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As you read through this newsletter, a fear you have has likely crossed your mind. I encourage you to take action and conquer it this year.
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No one is born courageous. Courage is a muscle that is built over time and with intentionality like any other. It is not the absence of fear. It is the willingness to overlook, override, and overpower the fear by taking action.
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Be courageous! Confront your fears today.
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Rooting for you always!!!
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