As we move past the 50th blog post since my launch, I asked some of you who have been with me since the beginning what you would like me to blog about. (Btw, the suggestion box is always open). And some of you brought up an interesting topic. Fear. Overcoming it and facing it, head on.
Let’s face it fear is really a learned response. You aren’t born being scared of anything. You only cry, eat, and well… you know. You aren’t crying because you are scared, maybe startled, but you are crying because you can’t communicate what you want, or don’t want. Fear is something you learn later, from other fearful humans. We gain so many fears throughout life, sometimes its hard to get out from under. But it’s life affirming when you do.
One friend told me how she overcame her fear and was able to accomplish a huge goal. She took part in the Tough Mudder. I had not heart of it before, so I looked it up. Come to find out, Tough Mudder is not just a marathon, or a romp through the mud, it is the premier adventure challenge series in the world!
Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. More than 700,000 participants worldwide have raised more than $5 million for the Wounded Warrior Project. It is more than an event, it’s a way of thinking. By running a Tough Mudder challenge, you unlock a true sense of accomplishment and discover a camaraderie with your fellow participants that’s experienced all too rarely these days. And you are helping others, a true well-rounded event.
My friend said it was the toughest physical and mental race she had ever participated in! She trained for a year, and learned so much about mental preparation for a race like this. And… she did it. She experienced exactly what the organizers said she would, “a true sense of accomplishment”. Congratulations Jill! Jill told me she was scared, but overcame her fear and made it happen. That’s what it’s all about. Tell your mind you can, tell the world you can, tell the universe you can, and watch what happens.
Jillian Michaels, someone who has also accomplished big goals in fitness, says this, “when you find what you love to do and are passionate about, the universe will conspire on your behalf”.
But how about when your universe is perceived as a scary place. Then there’s another fear. Fear of what you don’t understand, fear of what you see or hear from someone else, including the media. It’s especially true for young children, who don’t have enough life experiences to compare to when they hear something, or see something that is threatening. Last week’s events in Boston brought questions to light and fear to the surface for many children. One friend told me how her daughter was very worried because the uncle of the two men who allegedly conducted the bombings lives right here, in Maryland. That brought her daughter’s fear closer to home.
In this case, fear is warranted because of the events which transpired in and around Boston, how they are showcased on TV and talked about incessantly on social media. It seems everything bad goes viral within seconds, the good things take days, weeks or months to surface. But when your child is afraid, now its up to you, as a parent to become more, to answer questions, to make sure your children understand the world is not a bad place, but there are bad people. We must protect our children from harm, yet still live our lives to the fullest , celebrate the moments which matter, and there are plenty of them, and try to quell their fears.
We are all so connected, it can be good, it can be bad, but it is reality. I choose to concentrate on what I find, on what I feel, on what I learn is positive, and to share, so hopefully others won’t be fearful to accomplish the same. It’s not easy to overcome fear, but it’s worth it.
It’s one of the core reasons I write this blog. To put fear to rest, my own and yours. There are plenty of people who never take a shot at living their dream because of fear about the world, fear they transfer to themselves personally and which holds them hostage from reaching their true potential and becoming more than they ever thought they could. Don’t let this be you. Much of fear is in your own mind, focus on what is good and then fight to eliminate the fear and doubt in your life. Ask the universe to conspire on your behalf. Then live a life, the life, you deserve.
And always feel free to share. I’m all ears.
Until next time, thanks for taking the time.
Mark
Thank you Mark!