How many times a day are you afraid? I did a little experiment and over the course of the day I counted 34 times. Occasionally I experienced the adrenaline pumping, heart thumping, nausea causing fear (usually because my kids were 1 inch away from killing themselves). Most of the time my fear was more subtle, like a cloud hanging overhead. I almost didn’t notice it. But the fog hung over my head until I pushed it away. I wondered how often this fog directs my decisions.
I am a confident person. I am driven and have a web of friends and supports to catch me if I fall. So, what is there to be afraid of? When I took a look at it (like, really took a look) here is what I fear.
- Letting people down.
- Disappointing my children
- Getting laughed at by my colleagues
- Hurting someone else
- Getting to be “too big for my britches”
- Losing my security
- Feeling embarrassed
- Missing out on opportunities
- Failing
- Being told that I am not good enough
Do any of these sound familiar? Are your fears keeping you from making a big step in your life? What does that look like when you are getting ready to apply to PA school? I think at times we sabotage our selves by not doing our best. If we attempt to do something and fail, subconsciously we can give an excuse. If I don’t try my best, then when I fail it can be brushed off. One of the scariest things in life is trying our best and failing. Today I encourage you to really look at your own fears and follow them out to the very end. What will happen if you fail? What will happen if you never try? I look at my own life and think that my fears hold me back from taking risks. But I am more afraid of getting to the end of my life and regretting not taking that risk.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela
My hope is that all of you, dear readers, will honestly identify your fear and conquer it!
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