Overcome Your Fear

“Bran thought about it. “Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?”

“That is the only time a man can be brave,” his father told him.” ~ George R.R. Martin … 

We usually look negatively at fear, as it is often times interpreted as a sign of weakness and associated with failure. For instance, how many times have you heard someone call another person a “fraidy-cat” as a way to negatively describe his or her fear to act in a specific way? This is a perfect example of why many of us do not embrace our fears. Yet as George points out, we cannot be brave unless we are afraid, for that is the very definition of bravery–the human condition to confront pain and fear.

It is important that we confront and overcome our fears in life. Fear of failure, after all, is one of the most common fears we will all face. And if we cannot overcome that fear, we will never experience the failure that builds us up, teaches us how to fail better, and ultimately leads us to success.

Recognize your fears. Embrace them and begin to understand them. And when you have done this much… challenge them and conquer them bravely. There are forces much stronger than fear, and they exist within you. Build them up and put them to good use.

Overcome a fear of yours today.

Questions to consider:

Where does fear come from?

Can fear truly exist without our permission?

What are some ways you can strengthen your courage to overcome fear?

For further thought:

“Never worry alone. When anxiety grabs my mind, it is self-perpetuating. Worrisome thoughts reproduce faster than rabbits, so one of the most powerful ways to stop the spiral of worry is simply to disclose my worry to a friend. The simple act of reassurance from another human being becomes a tool of the Spirit to cast out fear–because peace and fear are both contagious.” ~ John Ortberg Jr.