“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”
Dale Carnegie 1888-1955, Author and Speaker
Do you often admire others for there no fear approach to life? Do you often say to yourself, only if I had more experience, then I would be able to get that promotion that I have always wanted? Do you often say to yourself, if only I had a little more confidence in myself, then I could step outside my comfort zone and dance, sing, create or explore another profession that is more in line with my heart’s desires? Or most common, do you ever say to yourself, if only I were, thinner, taller, prettier, then I would have the confidence to put myself out in the world and seek out opportunities to build relationships or stand up for an important cause?
If this is the kind of chatter (or your own personal rendition of the same) that goes on in your head, then get out of your head, accept who you are as you are, take the time to get in touch with your biggest dream for your life, and ACT! Yes, we all have fears. But, the real challenge is to not let those fears gain any ground to the point where they leave you paralyzed and not able to discover your potential. Face your fears. When we name them, they lose their power over us. Better yet, when we do the things that are inspired by our imagination that are confidence builders and that are the building blocks of our life’s dreams, then we are really living. You will never have any regrets if you take inspired action, even if you are defeated. As Paulo Coelho states in his new book, defeat is temporary because we learn from it and get back into life again. Living life with a fear of failure is a life never having really lived. So set out your goals in whatever way that rings true for you. If it is writing you want to do, tell your story, who cares what other people think. If it is dancing you want to do, go to a class and just move, you will end up feeling great and may just lose a few pounds to boot. And if it is creating that you want to do, put yourself in the best environment that allows the creative flow to pour out of you! Explore and get comfortable with your life. Do one thing every day to face your fear and one day soon the fear will be a thing of the past. Act. Don’t sit back and think that you have missed the boat, find your own boat and start paddling! Don’t gage your life on fear of being judged by others, they are really too worried about how you may judge them. So Go, Do, Be, Fly, Act. This is your chance, make the most out of it. Be an actor in your own script, don’t sit on the sidelines and just watch because fear holds you back. You have something to share with the world. If you do share it, be confident that you have everything to gain and nothing to lose! And in time, you will KNOW because you have become confident and courageous! As Glennon Doyle Melton would say, when you are at that point “Carry on, Warrior!”