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Fear

by Jonathan 2.0 Banned
16 replies
I had a revelation one day about courage which changed my perspective. And that is, the more fear you have of something, the more courage it takes to overcome/face it. In the past, I thought that courage meant that you were fearless, however, that's simply not the case. As Nelson Mandela said:

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

If you're like most people, you probably experience fear on a regular basis. And so you have a choice to make:

1. Let the fear get the best of you, and avoid whatever you're afraid of.
Or
2. "Feel the fear and do it anyway." (Thereby acting courageously.)

Another favourite quotation of mine form Christopher Reeve is:

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength the persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."

Not to brag or anything, however, I've experienced some of those overwhelming obstacles and you have a wonderful feeling of endurance knowing that you haven't given up. That you have kept going in spite of your fear(s.)

How can you be courageous (and the hero of your own life) this week?
#fear
  • Profile picture of the author Mr Bill
    I walked on fiery hot coals once barefoot - talk about facing fear! I did not fancy spending the rest of my years walking around on charred stumps. However, I survived without a burn or a mark and have been using the power of that moment ever since.

    If only I could get it to work on my fear of spiders and unsafe heights and depths.
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    • Profile picture of the author Odahh
      Originally Posted by Mr Bill View Post

      I walked on fiery hot coals once barefoot - talk about facing fear! I did not fancy spending the rest of my years walking around on charred stumps. However, I survived without a burn or a mark and have been using the power of that moment ever since.

      If only I could get it to work on my fear of spiders and unsafe heights and depths.
      with the little or not so little but non poisonus spiders ..they eat all the little bug that if left alone nasty spiders would find their way in ..and it is much better to have the non danger spiders than the ones that can harm you ..

      there are reasons to have a natural fear of snakes and spider..

      but we humans are stubborn and overly selfish..so because their are a few bad snakes and spider that can be deadly in any environment..all are suspect .

      when if we privide habitat for the ones that are not dangerous and keep the little bugs we don't like down .. is a win win for both .

      fears are built into us for survival reasons ..rather than conquring or supressinging our fears ..we listen to them and see the real reason we have them and if they are giving us useful feedback..or over reacting to stimulation.

      you probably see it with people money fears
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
      Banned
      Thanks for the input everyone. : )
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      "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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  • Profile picture of the author damiensuccess
    Fear.. It is in us all, but what differs from each of us is how we react to those fears..

    Lets not be fearless as Jonathan states. Lets embrace fear and challenge it with our abilities. If we fail, then use the failure to strengthen our next attempt or challenge.

    With each attempt to lift 500lbs comes failure to do so, but one step closer to reaching this goal.

    Why would anything else differ?

    I think the 2 biggest fears are the Fear of Failure and the Fear of Success
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  • Profile picture of the author Dain Supero
    Jonathan, on point as usual, sir.

    Damien, you as well, sir.

    I just want to add a slight angle to this.

    Personally I fear great white sharks. Why? Because I do not understand them. It doesn't matter if someone shows me statistics that say, oh hey great white sharks actually barely attack humans. It won't matter. I fear them because I personally have not taken the time to study and understand them. I'm sure if or when I do, my stance on the matter will change.

    The point is, we often fear that which we do not understand or cannot control. The first step to overcoming this is a sound understanding of whatever it is you fear. The second step is to realize that understanding alone is enough; control is never required, only desired.
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  • Profile picture of the author Odahh
    the number one fear seems to always come up as buplic speaking ..and this really has nothing to do with getting killed by angry crowdes in past lifes ..and everything to do with the fear of looking like a complete moron ..or doing something that makes a lot of prople not like you ..

    and other ego based fears
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    • Profile picture of the author Mr Bill
      Originally Posted by Odahh View Post

      the number one fear seems to always come up as buplic speaking ..and this really has nothing to do with getting killed by angry crowdes in past lifes ..and everything to do with the fear of looking like a complete moron ..or doing something that makes a lot of prople not like you ..

      and other ego based fears
      Interesting, hate spiders...LOVE public speaking. I may need to book an appointment.
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      • Profile picture of the author Maximus93
        Originally Posted by Mr Bill View Post

        Interesting, hate spiders...LOVE public speaking. I may need to book an appointment.
        I really like spiders personally. Never been good at public speaking unfortunately. Want to trade?
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  • Profile picture of the author Mr Bill
    I'll put up with the spiders to keep my lack of speaking fear.

    P.S. Public speaking is easy and awesome but you have to know what you're talking about and you have to be in front of a crowd that wants to hear you. That makes all the difference. So turn your fear of public speaking into a fear of public speaking ...to a hostile crowd. You'll be fine.
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  • Profile picture of the author damiensuccess
    Instead of Forgetting Fear, Understand Fear.
    Instead of Avoiding Fear, Embrace Fear.

    A quote I came up with for an article I written on the fear of success.
    I talk about why people would have a fear, the signs of a fear, and overcoming your fear. Those interested in the read, I also start it off with a nice personal story about my own fear of success.

    Fear of Success - Recognizing and Overcoming | Successful Marketing Secrets


    Hope this is helpful
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    • Profile picture of the author Odahh
      Originally Posted by damiensuccess View Post

      Instead of Forgetting Fear, Understand Fear.
      Instead of Avoiding Fear, Embrace Fear.

      A quote I came up with for an article I written on the fear of success.
      I talk about why people would have a fear, the signs of a fear, and overcoming your fear. Those interested in the read, I also start it off with a nice personal story about my own fear of success.

      Fear of Success - Recognizing and Overcoming | Successful Marketing Secrets


      Hope this is helpful
      if you dig into this fear of success ..you may not have to dig far to find the stew of manure our society has filled people heads with about rich and successful people..and ..the even many layer of condraditory beliefs of money

      once must first become successful to achieve success ..you do not win the superbowl then become a great quarter back..or a great team .

      you must prepare the fields ..sew the seeds, weed the feild and protect it from animals , water and feed the plants ..and then at some point you harvest .

      this was the way of life for most humans in societies for the last 10000 years ..

      we surround ourselves by people who we feel are like us and think accept us ..and tend to be in the same economic window we are .

      if we are successful and increase our income by 10 times ..we will lose that group ..and we feel we may not be accepted into a new group .

      so just why are many millionaire either immigrants or people who never really fit into the crowd ..or why do normal people have to go bankrupt once or twice before they get on the path to building wealth .

      fear of success is more a function of comfort in ones current social order
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  • Profile picture of the author C G
    You're right. When i was younger i though that the successful ones didn't feel any fear. That they got pleasure in every thing they did.

    Now i know that everyone is equal. Everyone feels fear and everyone can beat it.

    Cheers,

    C.G.
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  • Profile picture of the author damiensuccess
    fear of success is more a function of comfort in ones current social order
    Thanks again Odahh!
    I am feeling additional content is required my my article.
    Great insight and I really appreciate that.
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    Success Coach | Writer
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  • Profile picture of the author Trey Morgan
    Conquering a fear in one area also translates to all other areas. You feel more confident, you take more risks, and you're more comfortable with uncertainty.

    The benefits of facing and conquering your fears definitely outweigh the comfort you feel when you avoid your fears.

    I think we all know that we need to face our fears, but fear is very powerful and it takes a lot of energy to face our fears willingly.

    Sometimes you have to just stop thinking when you feel fear and just start doing what you have to do. The more you think about it, the more powerful the fear gets and then it becomes almost impossible to face your fear.

    Just let go of your fear and face it. You will feel very proud and confident once you overcome your fear.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
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      Originally Posted by tvon View Post

      The benefits of facing and conquering your fears definitely outweigh the comfort you feel when you avoid your fears.

      Well said tvon. : ) Helen Keller said:
      　
      “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”
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      "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    Originally Posted by Jonathan 2.0 View Post

    "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
    That is very inspirational.

    Some people don't know this but the true meaning of FEAR is:

    False Evidence Appearing Real.

    And the best way to conquer the fear of something is to do that something anyway.
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