“Ultimately we know deeply that the other side of every fear is a freedom.”
-Marilyn Ferguson:
Fear is a common thread which holds us together.
We all experience it. It doesn’t matter how old we are or where we are
in our lives, we all fear something. The difference between people,
those who achieve their goals and attain the wealth they desire and
those who do not, is what they do with their fear.
Types of Fear
The dictionary defines fear as:
a. A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger.
b. A state or condition marked by this feeling: living in fear.
2. A feeling of disquiet or apprehension: a fear of looking foolish.
3. Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power.
4. A reason for dread or apprehension: Being alone is my greatest fear.
Not all fears, as you can see, are created equal.
Fearing for your life as a semi-truck comes barreling down the road
toward you is quite different than a fear of public speaking though
both inspire the same physical response - increased heart rate,
sweating, tightening of muscles, rapid breathing and so on.
One fear may save your life the other…well the
other simply causes missed opportunities, loss of confidence, and a
significantly slower path to success. If you want to achieve your
wealth goals and create the life you desire – you have to not only face
your fears, you have to overcome them.
In Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill lists 6 types of fear:
1. Fear of Poverty
2. Fear of Criticism
3. Fear of Ill Health
4. Fear of loss of love of someone
5. Fear of Old Age
6. Fear of Death
Fear, is a state of mind. Nothing more nothing less. The good news…you are in control of your state of mind.
One great exercise for this is – “What’s the worst that could happen?”
When you’re fearing a confrontation, making a decision, taking a
financial risk or whatever decision you may be having to make which is
causing anxiety and fear ask yourself, “What is the worst that could happen?”
Then proceed to answer it. Lay it all out on the
line. For example, if you have an opportunity to get your book out in
front of people and have been invited to speak to 1000 conference
attendees and you’re terrified of making a fool of yourself then the
worst that could happen is that you make a total fool of yourself,
right? You could stumble over your words, lose your place and in short
be completely ineffective.
Now look at the flip side – what’s the best that could happen?
Conversely, you could give great speech, win over the crowd and sell
more books than you have printed. Sounds pretty good, right? You’re
also so impressive that handfuls of people approach you with new
opportunities. Score!
Indecision Breeds Doubt and Fear
It all begins with your attitude. Make a decision
to be successful. Make a decision to set aside all doubts and fears,
or better yet to not let them into your thought process at all.
Indecision, according to Napoleon Hill and many other wealth creation
experts, crystallizes into doubt. The two blend and become fear.
Fear, as you well know, gets in the way of accomplishing great things.
It prevents you from acting. And as you may also know – money likes
speed. The more you hesitate, the more indecisive you are – the longer
the road to financial success and great wealth.
There are many symptoms of fear – it’s these very symptoms which cause lack. They include:
- Indifference
- Indecision
- Doubt
- Worry
- Too cautious
- Procrastination
Each of these symptoms is a road block to wealth creation.
Feel any of these symptoms coming on and you must absolutely stop and
assess. Where is the symptom coming from? What are you afraid of?
Once you’re able to determine the fear you can then begin to change
your perspective by asking that question – what’s the worst that could
happen?
Once you know the worst, you can then prepare for the best.
You can then set aside your fear or overcome it. Our logical mind can
be both a hindrance and a help – the key is to use it to your
advantage. Recognize when your thoughts are limiting your success.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I complaining about someone or something?
- Am I blaming someone or something?
- Am I self-medicating to avoid thinking/feeling something?
- Am I annoyed by someone or something?
- Am I avoiding someone/something? Procrastinating?
If you find yourself answering yes to anyone of those
questions know that you have the tools right now to change your
perspective. To change you can:
- Change the words you use – problems become opportunities and a complaint becomes a request.
- Be grateful for what you presently have and look at each difficulty as an opportunity to learn and grow.
- Remember that
you’re responsible for all that you create in your life and you’re
capable of creating amazing and seemingly impossible things – including
great wealth.
“Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death”
-James F. Bymes
Fear is perhaps the most difficult roadblock to attaining great wealth.
It’s a natural human reaction. It’s not all bad – it’s useful to
protect ourselves from harm and death. However much of the fear we
feel has little or nothing to do with injury or death but rather we’re
protecting ourselves from perceived emotional injury, from perceived
financial injury and by and large to protect our pride our ego.
Would you really let a potential slice to your ego or emotions prohibit you from attaining all you desire?
Of course not! When those little seeds of fear surface, recognize them
for what they are, turn them around or set them aside, and continue on
your confident path toward your goals – whatever they may be.
To your success!
What do you think about Crossing the Bridge of Fear? Have
you had any real life experiences that you overcame? Leave your
comments below…
(Source: http://www.surefirewealth.com)