Fear is a basic human emotion that prevents us from doing dangerous or harmful things – like shaking hands with a grizzly bear. Fear also disguises itself as anger, anxiety, jealousy, and a bunch of other lousy emotions. Since none of these feel great, we tend to avoid fear and its friends at all costs. But what if that cost is our potential? What if fear is costing us real love or reaching for a dream? It is time to release fear.
Fear vs. Caution
There is a big difference between fear and caution. Caution invites our intelligence and spirit into the decision making mix to calculate risk vs. reward and truth vs. temptation. Caution is our friend. But it is time to be fearless. If you make a decision and are worried about how others will view that decision, that is fear. If you decide to take a leap in business and develop a reasonable budget to work within, that is caution. Caution and fear can seem linked but the clear divide is that caution works with intention.
Fear in Real Life
In relationships, fear is never a friend. Worry about how our children are perceived can drive parents to make terrible decisions for their kids – shouting at them to smile for the perfect social media post. Liberation to parent in a way that feels completely authentic, intentional, and in the best interest of our families is the gift of parenting fearlessly. With our spouse, a lack of trust – just another word for fear – degrades the basis of the relationship. Without fear in marriage, the pure love that brought us together in the first place can be renewed. Saying goodbye to fear in the workplace means authentically using our skills and talents to bring forward the mission at hand. It might mean taking a whole new career path that aligns us more closely to our purpose. Imagine what is possible as we say good-bye to fear.
Meet Fear Head-On
The next time a decision makes your heart skip a beat, examine if it is excitement or fear. When we live outside of fear, there is a world of possibility awaiting. When decisions are made with intention and connected to purpose, there is no mistake. Even if things don’t turn out as expected, the opportunity to learn and improve is never a mistake. Release fear and what comes next will be exactly what we’ve been waiting for.
Cole Bershback
Cole is a wife and mom of three. As a Registered Dietitian, certified yoga instructor, and Unbeatable Mind Coach, she has committed her life to wellness and the pursuit of our highest potential. If grit and love had a child, it would be Cole Bershback.
