The other side of FEAR is FREEDOM

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The other side of FEAR is FREEDOM

“Everything you’ve always wanted is on the other side of fear.” - Jack Canfield

There it is, FEAR.  I wonder how many dreams were squashed before they ever had a chance to happen because of fear.  Fear is a short word, but so highly charged. Each of us have things that we are scared to do. And, overcoming the fear is often where we find freedom, joy, adventure, confidence, and unexpected surprises.  

I lived much of my life afraid in some ways. I followed rules and expectations at school, with my parents, within my ethnic community, and at work. I lived within my comfort zone.

Ironically, I was less fearful in trying new things.  One of the best times of my life was backpacking throughout Europe right after college with my friend Anne.  It was back in 1994 so there were no cell phones, no email, no access to our parents’ credit cards, and no set itinerary.  We had our unlimited Euro Train pass for 30 days, some American Express traveler’s checks, a very heavy backpack filled with our essentials for 30 days, our Rick Steves European travel book, our Birkenstocks, more denim than should ever be worn at the same time (see photo), and a heart full of adventure and naïveté. 

I think our naiveness helped us to have the time of our lives, because we weren’t afraid. We traveled where we wanted to, stuck to an unreasonably low budget, relied on our instincts and intuition to keep us out of real trouble, and figured things out each day.  As a result, we have stories and memories that are vivid, funny, and filled with adventure that would never have happened if we stayed within our comfort zones.  I am still shocked that our parents allowed us to go.

As I look back on my life, the best stories are usually the ones where something didn’t go as planned, where there was a conflict or an unexpected turn of events.  Yet, those are the stories we remember, the ones we tell, the memories that are vivid, and the ones that stand out in a series of other routine or mundane days. 

I am part of the Scare Your Soul community that inspires people to participate in small acts of courage in their lives that lead to transformational changes. This week’s challenge is to choose one obstacle you will conquer in 2021.  For me, I’ve been working over the past two years on getting over my fear of being fully seen.  That means writing content and sharing it regularly.  It is creating videos where I am speaking directly to others.  It means finally writing a book, and creating group online programs that have been on my heart for some time.  It is being more vulnerable in what I share, with the hope that it inspires others to take action and to be more courageous in their own lives.

One of my favorite bible verses that I have carved into wood sits in my office “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7. I look at it everyday as a reminder that we were created to be powerful, loving, and wise.  

We learned fear over time through external circumstances or outside influences that were trying to protect us. In certain circumstances fear has kept us safe from real harm, but it can also be limiting and keep us from experiencing life fully. I don’t know about you, but I am ready to live more fully, and to do things before the fear goes away. It may never go away, and I’m ready to do things scared anyway.

Who is ready to go on this journey with me? Here are some things you can do today:

  • Join the Scare Your Soul community and sign up for this challenge.

  • Make a list of areas of your life where you have been holding back or where fear has limited you from showing up BIG and journal on what you notice.

  • Leave a comment below on what you will be doing scared in 2021.

  • Take small, daily steps in ways that challenge you to live outside your comfort zone.

The best moments are where we overcame fear, or lived past our comfort zones, or didn’t know any better until we got to the other side.  That’s where freedom lies, where adventure begins, and where life is lived. Here’s to living more courageously!