What has four letters, starts with "f" and affects most of us humans at different times in our lives. For some the feeling this one little word elicits is constant, for others it floats in and out of daily life. Many times it will drive us to do things we may not be conscious about AND to do or say things that are not a true reflection of who we really are. Have you guessed it yet? Yes, that's right it's fear. The great news is fear can become your ally. Whether you believe this to be true or not is up to you but mine is named Molly and is a beautiful winged shiny purple and green dragon. The not so good news is that all too often fear controls us humans and we may not know it.
If you are one of these humans on the treadmill of life, just walking in fear, talking in fear, you are likely living in an unconscious state. Look around you, you are not alone. For years my treadmill of life looked something like this:
"I must keep going, one foot in front of the other because if I don't I might fall off land on my face and embarrass myself or be thought of as weak. If I don't think about it, it's really quite easy once I get going. But I really can't look away for fear of what might happen. If I fall how will I survive? What will I do then? No it's much easier to just stay here."
Does this sound familiar? If so congratulations, acknowledging the very presence of fear is the first step to becoming fearless. Let me share a short story with you.
At dinner recently my son and I were having a discussion about the magic of the number 3. He had been studying this principle in one of his classes and was quite taken in the observation of all the places this shows up such as the brain parts and functions, religion (father, son and holy spirit), and he said,"Even in Wizard of Oz." Well this was one that I had not thought of before. He said "Yes the Tin Man searching for a heart, the Scarecrow looking for a brain and the Lion asking for courage." In retrospect I am seeing another application and who knows maybe the author, L. Frank Baum, did as well.
As the story goes each of these individual characters were seeking something they thought they did not have, right. But now look from the perspective of becoming fearless, notice how these 3 attributes work in unison and we can even order them.
1) The Scarecrow wanted a brain.
To become fearless we must first recognize the state itself. Then consciously move out of the parts of the brain that involve panic (the natural instinct is to run away from fear) and emotion. If we can do this and move into the cerebral cortex where we create, we can see a way through all the panic and emotion into a different way.
2) The Lion wanted courage.
To make this choice takes courage. Sometimes lots of courage. Moving away from fear is not always easy. To do so challenges our beliefs. But if we can muster the courage - oh how sweet it is to be on the other side.
3) The Tin Man wanted a heart.
Here in this space of the heart, the soul. the core of who you really are, you can begin to create. Becoming fearless requires stages and cooperation of your Scarecrow, your Lion, and your Tin Man. There is a oneness just like the parts of the brain, Reticular, Limbic and Cerebral working in unison or the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
From this place comes conscious living and creating more of what you do want. You move off the treadmill of life and onto that yellow brick road where purpose, passion and wisdom reside.
What are you fearful of? Go ahead write them down. Maybe some of yours look like this:
* lack of money
* being a bad parent or spouse
* being unloved
* failure
* success
* being not good enough...
I could go on, but you get the idea.
Now ask yourself the really hard questions. Which road do you do you want to travel; on the fear based treadmill or the one laid with golden brick that takes you home? You are always at choice.
CHOICE IS THE KEY TO CONSCIOUS CREATIVITY
For over 25 years I worked with people to create strategies for financial success. Now as a Certified Erickson Professional Coach and facilitator of the Leading from your Strengths® technologies I support people to create abundance in all aspects of their lives.
No stranger to the challenges of juggling family, work and all the extras in between, I understand what it takes to do more than just survive. Through these challenges I find opportunities for growth personally and professionally. The future holds many exciting things and as I head into the second half of my life I have been noted as saying “The first 50 years I have been in training, the next are for living fully.”
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