Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Proverbs 9:10
What do you FEAR? How is FEAR affecting you? AND, How can you overcome FEAR?
Types of Fears
Rejection
The fear of rejection is really the fear of people. If you go through life constantly seeking to please others in ways that will bring you happiness, you may be dealing with this fear.
Even with this fear, you naturally seek more out of life, however, because you are a people pleaser you refrain from making decisions or taking actions that might cause other people to deny you the things that you want.
Does this sound like you?
Failure
The fear of failure means going through life worrying about making mistakes, about hurting other people, and about being judged for your actions and decisions.
You can identify it in yourself if you feel like you are suffering from extreme emotions and reactions. You may be quick to anger. You also seek perfectionism and always try to do whatever it takes to over-please the people in your life.
Does this sound like you?
Success
The fear of success is possibly the most prevalent goal-oriented fear within society today. The truth is, the thought of stepping outside of your comfort zone brings a great deal of uncertainty and unpredictability that naturally stifles your decisions and actions.
You may find that you tend to procrastinate, to be disorganized, and seem to be gifted with a natural lack of productivity. These behaviors are self-sabotaging tools (excuses) you are using to lay the foundation for roadblocks toward your goals.
Does this sound like you?
Minors
Along with the above three fears, you may also deal with fears of inadequacy, change, commitment, confrontation, responsibility, and losing control. Each of these minor fears are powerful self-sabotaging forces too.
Overcoming Fears
Validate
You have no hope in the world of ever effectively dealing with something if you don’t first acknowledge that it exists within your reality. You must validate the existence of your fears (even though they are just irrational projections of your mind) in a way that will throw a little doubt and uncertainty your way.
Ask: Is this fear reasonable? Does this fear make sense?
Understand
The next step is to learn to understand your fears at a deeper and more profound level, which can be accomplished by moving back through time to gain a realization of how your fears came into existence.
Ask: Why does this fear have a hold over me? How did I originally come to fear this?
Consequences
To successfully overcome your fears, you will need to gain some leverage. You must first identify the potential losses that will come to the surface if you continue to hold onto this fear, while on the other hand acknowledging the potential gains that you are likely to achieve if you successfully overcome this fear in a rational and proactive way.
Ask: What am I likely to lose if I continue to hold onto this fear? What am I likely to gain if I manage to successfully overcome this fear?
Plan
This process involves looking ahead in time, identifying and strategically contemplating how you will deal with this fear under the blanket of different scenarios and perspectives. You must effectively determine how you will deal with your fear from an emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental perspective.
Ask: What’s the worst that could possibly happen? How will I effectively deal with this scenario?
Changing your Perspective
At this point I am going to ask you to become a courageous person. That means you are not going to simply accept reality.
A courageous person has a set of distinguishable habits that help them to successfully move through their fears and into a world of unlimited opportunities and potential. This means transforming your perspective about yourself, others and circumstances in ways that will help you overcome your fears.
Self
Believe you will achieve your goals and objectives despite your fears. Believe you will attain a positive outcome. And believe there are hidden opportunities around every corner.
Finally, have the unshakable belief that God is working for your betterment.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28
Others
Look at others in ways that will help to further your cause as you move through the fears and obstacles that are standing in your way. This means you must be fully committed to your goals.
Commitment is necessary as it helps you move through your fear-driven obstacles with a greater sense of determination and persistence that will keep you going despite naysayers.
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. Galatians 6:4-5
Circumstances
Identify the seeds of opportunity hidden within the problems and fears that are currently confronting. You have no limitations. Strive for seemingly insurmountable goals that keep you on your toes and moving forward each day.
Be patient and use rational thinking to encourage better and more proactive decision-making. And, have faith, faith that gives you a sense of confidence so you move beyond any obstacles.
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Psalms 118:6
What are you fearing? How are you allowing fear to affect you? AND, How will you overcome fear?
Want someone to chat with about what you are going through as you seek to live out God’s Calling, connect with me for a Clarity Session.
Be filled to overflowing,
Deneen