Are Fears Messing with You?

​As a new positive phase of life is gradually unfolding, some familiar not-so-great thoughts came up that masked underlying fears related to moving forward. Because I've been there and understand the process of getting beyond this when it rears up, empowering others to do the same is part of my passion. 

I've been reading the book Educated by Tara Westover. It's about a young woman who has the courage to walk away from her dysfunctional extremist family. I'm including the following passage from the book because it provides interesting thoughts about fear. She's talking about the roof of Cambridge University's cavernous Gothic chapel:

"Finally the staircase opened onto the roof, which was heavily slanted, an inverted 'V' enclosed by stone parapets [a low protective wall along a roofline]. The wind was gusting, rolling clouds across the sky; the view was spectacular, the city miniaturized, utterly dwarfed by the chapel.

​I forgot myself and climbed the slope, then walked along the [roof] ridge, letting the wind take me as I stared out at the expanse of crooked trees and stone courtyards.

'You're not afraid of falling?' a voice said . . . I turned. It was Dr. Kerry. He had followed me, but he seemed unsteady on his feet, nearly pitching with every gust of wind . . . 

 . . . I had to think before I could answer. 'I can stand in this wind, because I'm not trying to stand in it,' I said. 'The wind is just wind. You could withstand these gusts on the ground, so you can withstand them in the air. There is no difference. Except the difference you make in your head.'

He stared at me blankly. He hadn't understood.

'I'm just standing,' I said . . . 'If you could just control your panic, this wind would be nothing.' "

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T A K E A W A Y

Your fears can hide behind difficult emotions that can stop you in your tracks. It's possible to manage the fears that are holding you back so you can get on with your life. And all the wonderful experiences that are waiting for you on the other side of those fears.

Developing the awareness that (as Ms. Westover said above), "knowing the difference you make in your head" is an important factor that can be a simple place to start. 

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My fears are holding me back. What Can I Do? 
I can help you help yourself through a wonderful retreat day workshop that will empower you to move beyond your fears, whatever they may be.

​Fears swallowed up a lot of my time and life energy. You can learn from my experiences so you can free yourself.
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Photo Credit: Curry Popeck Mountain