Did you know that Halloween began as an ancient holiday to honor all the Catholic saints on one day (All Saints Day)? I’m unclear how it morphed into a holiday for candy and celebrating all things evil, scary, and supernatural. That’s quite a shift! Perhaps we just needed a reason to justify scaring ourselves!
Have you ever wondered why people seek out things that scare them? Why do we ride roller coasters, jump out of airplanes, and go to movies that give us nightmares? Because we like the flow of adrenaline! And when we overcome our fears and emerge triumphant, it makes us feel more able to confront and deal with other things in our life that we fear….whether large or small. Heck, business networking activates fear in me! That’s why I try to say “yes” to every invitation. And you know what? I get stronger every time I show up and defeat that fear!
So, what scares you? Fear of failing? Fear of the unknown? How do those fears limit you? What opportunities and adventures would open up for you if you overcame those fears? Studies show that when you focus on what you fear, the fear gets bigger. And, when you activate fear, your most primal reactions will take over, meaning “fight or flight”. Which is it for you? Do you fight back, or do you take flight by bolting (or freezing)? Either way, you’re missing out on the confidence you’d gain by overcoming fear. Remember that FEAR is simply False Evidence Appearing Real.
It takes courage to take action in the face of fear, but it’s necessary if you want the confidence to pursue your dreams. Follow me and do what elite athletes do:
1) Understand risks and mitigate them. (Example: regular exercise will keep you physically prepared so you can say “yes” to climbing a beanstalk!)
2) “Look past the board.” This principle allows Karate students to break a board with a chop of their bare hand! By strongly visualizing the outcome rather than the board, they learn to avoid fear and the hesitancy it creates. Vividly imagine the exhilaration you’ll feel when you’ve completed a challenge!
3) Just do it! (aka Nike) Accept challenges related to the things you value….without hesitation. If you want to be more physically fit, sign up for walking or running races. If you want to be a speaker and fear it, offer to do a talk! Just say yes, and stop analyzing!
Courage is a muscle that can be developed. Fear is the catalyst. Embrace it! When we were kids, Halloween was a great time to have some fun while testing our “scare” tolerance. As adults, maybe it’s a good reminder that poking our fears once in awhile is a good way to develop our courage. After all, fear is part of life. Learn to conquer it, rather than avoid or fight it, and you’ll develop the courage to live life without limits.
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
“You must do the things you think you cannot do.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
“If you fear it, you MUST!” -Tony Robbins