Fear is a trait that all humans share. We are all afraid of something, whether it’s a fear of flying, a fear of spiders or a fear of public speaking. At one time or another, most of us also suffer from a fear of the unknown and a fear of failure. These can be the most limiting fears since they keep us from stepping out of our comfort zone and trying new things. Unless we fight fear of the unknown and fear of failure, they can ultimately keep us from achieving our dreams.
A healthy sense of fear is a good thing. It can keep us from taking unnecessary risks and warn us when danger is near. But when fear limits personal growth, it prevents us from achieving our true potential. Fear can cause us to become stalled. We find a niche that feels safe and then stay right where we are, avoiding any changes that will shake things up. Many people settle for a boring or disappointing life rather than risk failure by striking out and trying something new.
Do you have dreams that you think you will never achieve because of self-doubt and fear? Are there experiences and opportunities that you’re missing out on? Try to imagine the benefits of overcoming your fear then take small steps to get there. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but we can never grow unless we allow ourselves to stretch.
A few years ago, I volunteered to be an adult leader at a summer camp that my two sons were going to attend. The camp was located on Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California and focused on aquatic activities. Each youth camper and adult leader was required to take a swim test that would determine which activities they would be allowed to participate in. The swim test required a demonstration of freestyle, breast stroke and floating. My sons had taken swimming lessons for several summers, but I had never formally been taught to swim. I could only swim underwater and had always been afraid to try freestyle.
My first impulse was to skip the swim test and avoid the embarrassment of failing it, but that would have severely limited my camp activities. A few months before camp, I began to swim a few days each week at our sports club. Initially I stuck to my underwater paddle, but then I watched videos online to learn some proper strokes and even asked my sons for pointers. As the weeks passed, I found myself enjoying swim practice more and more. When it came time to go to camp, I was confident I could pass the swim test. Not only did I pass, but a few days into camp I won a special award for completing a one mile swim in the ocean. No one could possibly know how much that award meant to me.
When fear starts to get the upper hand, remember that you are not alone. Everyone is afraid of something, but only those who face their fears will ever overcome them. Start with small steps and keep your goal in mind. Persevere, and your confidence will increase as your fear recedes.
“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” Sven Goran Eriksson
©Universal Copyright 2012 is authorized here. Please distribute freely as long as both the author Catie Watson and www.MyoneSource.com are included as the resource and this information is distributed on a non-commercial no charge basis.
