Grappling Fear
Have you ever been stopped by fear? I am not talking about healthy fear, as in, stay away from that foaming-at-the-mouth dog or don’t go down that dark alley. I’m talking about unwarranted fear. The kind you make up in your head.
The fear that says, “You can’t do this.”
“You are not good enough.”
“You’ll never measure up, so why even try?”
Yeah, that kind.
Straight up:
Fear stops me all the time.
As a writer, there are days where I’ve carved out an entire day to write, and I’m lucky to get one sentence out. Some days self-doubt leaves me staring at a blank computer screen. When I do come up with something to write I think, “That’s stupid.” Or “Why did you ever think you could do this?” Or “Nobody gives a hoot what you think.”
Fear creeps in and convinces me that I don’t have value. Fear convinces me that I have nothing to say. Fear convinces me my worthiness is measured by my lack of ability to “produce.”
Yes, fear stops me all the time…
FOR A TIME.
What do you do when fear gets a grip and immobilizes you?
You do the next right thing:
You fill out the job application.
You apologize to the person you’ve hurt or wronged.
You study for the next test.
You submit your proposal to the perspective client.
You ask the woman of your dreams for a date.
You say yes.
You make the call… send the email… drive to the destination…
You sit your butt down at the computer. (Even if you’re staring at a blank screen!)
Yes, fear stops me all the time…
FOR A TIME.
For a time, don’t allow fear to keep you stuck.
We’ve all felt stuck. We all feel self-doubt and discouragement. Don’t allow fear to keep you stuck.
Un-stuck yourself.
I have a formula for un-stucking myself.
It’s really simple.
Don’t laugh at me.
It really works.
OK… go ahead and laugh.
But I’m telling you anyway.
Sometimes it takes just one of these.
Sometimes it takes almost all of these.
Here’s my simple formula:
- Pray
- Go for a walk
- Take a shower- (When you’re stuck even showering can be difficult.)
- Talk to someone and get advice
- Express how you’re feeling either by writing about it or discussing it
- Drink a cup of coffee
- Get together with a friend
- Serve someone
- Make a list of your many blessings
- Read the work of an author who inspires
How do YOU un-stuck yourself?
I leave you with this one last powerful thought.
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
March on brave one! Take the next step.
