Fear: Just Another Four Letter Word

“You gain strength, courage and confidence, by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”~ Eleanor Roosevelt

I love that quote I have it on the wall in my office.  Look fear in the face, when is the last time you did that?  I have to be honest for most of my life almost every decision I made was made from fear.  Growing up my mother was always warning me of what could happen and cautioning me to be careful and I internalized it.  I know she was protecting me but I was afraid of getting hurt, trying new things, confrontation (an affliction I am still battling) and the list goes on.

Looking fear in the face makes me think of the movie, The Wizard of Oz, “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.”  The Wizard had an elaborate show to bring fear and terror to Dorothy, The Tin Man, The Lion and The Scare Crow. They all trembled in fear until Toto inadvertently moved the curtain unveiling the Wizards true identity.  If we peeled back the curtain of our fear how small would it really be?  Fear is just False Expectations Appearing Real, but what if they weren’t real, what if you pulled back the curtain and they were a harmless little man?  You will never know until you try so go for it and face that fear, look it dead in the eyes and say you have no power here.

My Challenge: In the immortal words of one of my all-time shero’s Eleanor Roosevelt, “Do something each day that scares you.”  You will develop those courage muscles and gain strength and confidence.

Namaste,

Maria Elena Escobar

 

 

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