The truth is we can see the future. We know exactly what we want out of our life. It is clear as day. Well… for most of us.
Photograph by Spencer McDonald at www.One23Images.com
As an example: I see myself on stage speaking to and inspiring thousands. I have always seen that in my mind. You might call it my perfect life. Oh to do that. Now that would be pure nirvana. So, why do we dream instead of do? It’s a fair question and I have a theory.
It may not be a popular theory and it is only mine. You decide. My theory is we are locked up (jailed) by fear. Fear is a powerful imagination that acts as a jailer. Fear keeps us confused, unable to move, cautious, and right where we are today. And fear doesn’t even have even use bars and key to keep you locked up… it is all in your mind.
For some of us we have no fear at all. We thrive on conquering fear. You see this in people who scale mountains, jump out of airplanes, and do risky things in life. They have confidence in their ability to survive and so fear never conquers them. They remain free from the jail of our mind.
If this need for thrill seeking is not in your DNA then what? Then you will need to deal with fear.
Think of fear as an army inside your mind. Their goal is really to keep you safe. Fear is keeping you safe by causing you to doubt your decisions, leaving risk alone, and lowering your self-confidence. Seems like a survival and protection mechanism that has been place inside of us over time. The trouble is… by keeping you safe this army of fear is actually working against what you really want. Thus ensues a battle of the mind.
To overcome it will take work. It will take repetitive work.
It all begins with a decision. The decision you need to make is to stop allowing fear to keep you jailed. I made my decision many years ago by simply putting fear on notice. That notice included a physical letter I wrote to General Fear and let him know that he was done, finished, through robbing my freedom and perfect life. I was ready to do battle to destroy him.
After you make your decision you will need to tend the garden. I say tend the garden because fear will come back. He doesn’t listen well and seem to have a one-track mindset. That mindset says, “Keep (insert your name here) safe.” Use affirmations to keep fear in check. Here is one you might use.
“I am living the life I always imagined because fear is dead.”
Or, use your own. It is only an idea.
These are anchors that help you stay focused on your perfect life and not on fear. Other anchors are good books, blogs, mentors and coaches, and accountability groups or partners.
I would really like to here how you keep fear away.
Finally, you can keep fear away by journaling about him. Write as if you are having a conversation with fear. What would you tell him? Sounds crazy and it works.
Be your best weapon and take on the jailer of your mind… fear.
