Inside what scares you lies what frees you.
~ Source unknown
We all have fears. Some of us have debilitating fears. When we learn to conquer those fears, we release ourselves from the bondage that binds us.
I was terrified of public speaking. Still am, really. Back in college, I took a public speaking class. And when the day came for me to deliver my speech, I skipped the class and feigned ill. For the make-up, I had to give the talk in front of the professor only, which I thought would be much easier but I was still a wreck and my presentation sucked.
Then came the day that I couldn’t skip out on. Getting up in front of a group of people to give a talk absolutely made me sick to my stomach. But there was no going back. I had to deliver. I had a whole class of people waiting to learn about their new job. My knees were quaking, my hands were shaking and my voice was quivering. But after a few minutes, I got into the groove and suddenly the fear dissipated. I was no longer afraid…and what was even more surprising, I actually enjoyed it! I was free…
And then when similar opportunities presented themselves, I was able to accept them without reservation because I knew that I might be a little off at first but my groove would kick in and I would bring it to a successful conclusion.
I have spent a lifetime conquering fears along the way, but I still have a long way to go and many fears to overcome. But that’s what living is about, right?
What scares you? Have you conquered fears? If so, do you feel free now?
Angels Bark 
Hi, dear Michele! This is an excellent topic. People need to take a lesson from you. If you are afraid of doing something that you really want to do or need to do, follow Van Halen’s song and “go ahead and jump.” You might experience a period of panic and nervousness initially but if you hang in there and ride it out you will get into the zone, calm down. get focused and find that you actually enjoy it. Too many people bail out before getting to that breakthrough point or never even try at all. I always feared public speaking, too, and yet I became a television news reporter. I guarantee that I was plenty scared in those seminar programs each time I stood barefoot at the edge of a 20 foot long bed of glowing, red hot wood coals that were burning at a temperature hot enough to melt aluminum or roll steel. The heat coming off that fire bed felt like a blast furnace. Yet, I was able to fire an anchor in my brain that allowed me to go for it, “just do it,” and confidently walk to the other side. I was not alone. In every seminar I witnessed a hundred other people including children and people in their 80s, turn fear into power and successfully perform the firewalk. There is no greater or more powerful feeling than the one you get when you harness your fear, stretch way out of your comfort zone and meet a challenge.
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I didn’t know you were a TV News Reporter!!! How cool is that??! What a great job. You sure have led an interesting life Shady!
I can’t imagine doing the fire walk. I’ve seen it done but opted not to take part. I’m too chicken for that. I have enough trouble with my feet than to invite any more! I’m always impressed at the people who do it. How can you not get burned?? They say you walk on these hot coals and don’t get burned? I don’t see how that’s possible. I’m a wimp. A total wimp when it comes to pain and discomfort…
20 feet is a long way to go when you’re walking on fire. I’m impressed that you did it…and multiple times! Wowsa.
Was this a Brian Tracey seminar? I was in Sales (radio advertising and then cable TV advertising) and have been to a number of “Pump You Up” seminars. Brian Tracey was one that sticks in my mind…
Thanks for sharing your story!
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My fear is of flying! I haven’t stopped flying. I have had to do it from time to time. I just get a prescription for Ativan from the doctor and say The Lord’s Prayer over and over while I’m in the air. I would say I haven’t overcame the fear at all. But I’ve learned to cope. Usually I find a way to get there without going to the airport!! Loved how you overcame your fear.
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Oh how I hate to fly! I get a little nervous but mainly it’s just the hassle of flying that makes me crazy. Whoopi Goldberg was always afraid of flying and she used to take a private bus to get to all her gigs all over the country. She finally overcame her fear and I believe she flies today.
I would hate to have the fear so bad like you have it. That’s scary!
Thanks for coming by Paula!
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I’ve conquered many fears, especially my fear of getting lost while driving my car. Thank God for Navigator! The ability to set out for a destination and reach it is quite freeing. I don’t think I’ll ever get over my fear of rodents and reptiles, but not long after I moved to Florida, the dogs killed a rat in my backyard. They brought it to the door as a gift for me. I couldn’t get into the garage because of a broken door, so I had no shovel. I took a large, black garbage bag, turned it inside out, put my hand in as if it were a glove, and picked up the rat. I tied the bag shut. He went in the garbage. I was quaking inside. I did it, but in this case, although I take some pride in getting rid of Mr. Rat, I don’t feel free enough to say, Bring it on, Rats!
Love,
Janie
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Lol! Yeah, that wouldn’t be a battle cry I’d scream either! 🙂 Rats are so nasty!
Re: getting lost: I’ve always felt getting lost was like exploring. I don’t mind it, unless I’m in a hurry to get somewhere…
But yes, I love my iPhone maps!
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Hi again, dear Michele! I couldn’t get your reply box to work this time but I’d like to offer a reply to your questions.
You wrote:
<>
Please remember the gist of your post. You thought you were too chicken for public speaking, too, but you got yourself to do it, discovered that you enjoy it, and empowered yourself. I remember an 87 year old woman performing the firewalk as well as numerous children. I started out as a seminar participant and later became a trainer in a Neuro-Linguistic Programming seminar series modeled after the Tony Robbins motivational seminars.
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Tony Robbins, that’s who I was thinking of! Yes, you reminded me with the neuro-linguistic programming deal. He was really something! Very motivational. Back when I went to see him, he talked about fire walks but didn’t have one for us.
I guess I’d have to really be revved up to do a fire walk. But that’s what the motivational speakers do, get you all revved up and fearless! So I guess I’ll just say Never say never… 🙂
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(Please remove my above reply because it was incomplete. Sorry for making a mess of things!)
Hi again, dear Michele! I couldn’t get your reply box to work this time but I’d like to offer a reply to your questions.
You wrote:
<>
Please remember the gist of your post. You thought you were too chicken for public speaking, too, but you got yourself to do it, discovered that you enjoy it, and empowered yourself. I remember an 87 year old woman performing the firewalk as well as numerous children. I started out as a seminar participant and later became a trainer in a Neuro-Linguistic Programming seminar series modeled after the Tony Robbins motivational seminars.
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You wrote “I’m too chicken for that.”
So sorry, but your quote keeps disappearing from my replies! 🙂
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Lol! Well, guess what? I don’t know how to delete comments! Oh well. that’s fine Shady. I’ll have to fish around here and figure out how to delete comments once they’re posted. I spent all afternoon trying to figure out why my printer wasn’t working and I was just about to call my computer guy when I tried one more thing and Voila, it’s worked! Technology drives me crazy sometimes…
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Oh I have dealt with fears-I was severely bullied when I was a kid so I was terrified of being killed actually since certain kids did threaten to slice my throat from ear to ear. I was trying to go unnoticed but it didn’t work-they noticed. I somehow, through the love of my parents and my brother (who didn’t realize his positive impact) to find the courage to embrace what i love and stop the madness of bullying. Once I saw how his friends treated me with respect and were genuinely interested in my interests, i realized there was more to life. To be told, when you are 7, that you will be killed (that’s another sad sack story) or worse, your family will be killed and then to be treated like dung from grade school until the end of high school filled me with sadness, and no hope and tremendous fear but I overcame it and conquered it. It has made me who I am today, without doubt, but I chose to hear the birds sing in the morning and feel the sun on my face. Music and old movies gave me calmness (Queen’s “We are the Champions” was my High school mantra) and my mom gave me love and strength. My dad didn’t know all that had occurred but he was there without knowing. So I feel I conquered the worst. Now on a lighter note, fear of heights always wins no matter how much i try:)
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I am so sorry you went through that when you were a child. How horrible. I know all about being bullied. It’s not fun and it really does mess with your mind. I’m glad to know that you conquered that and had such a loving family to help you through it.
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Fear in general was my failure in my first go around with college. It’s really kind of dumb because I was mostly afraid of other people who may have been likely to have been as afraid as I was.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Wrote By Rote
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And all the friendships you could’ve forged because you shared something in common…
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