{"id":3506,"date":"2011-07-15T00:51:47","date_gmt":"2011-07-15T05:51:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=3506"},"modified":"2011-07-17T10:31:47","modified_gmt":"2011-07-17T15:31:47","slug":"courage-getting-your-fear-in-gear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=3506","title":{"rendered":"Courage: Getting your fear in gear"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/strong>By: Rena Reese<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"Courage is granted to each of us equally, not just firemen, explorers and military heroes.\u00a0 Like a muscle that will atrophy if not exercised, our courage is also strengthened and grows with use. Lucky are the children who have courage breathed into them by parents, teachers and role models during their formative years; surely they will navigate fear with more grace as adults.\u00a0\u00a0 However it is never too late to tap into our reservoir of courage to align with the life our spirit is nudging us toward. Silencing our fears doesn\u2019t happen by reviewing and analyzing them, but rather best done through small acts of courage in support of the outcomes we desire.<\/p>\n

Fear is a powerful emotion.\u00a0 Beyond just an emotion, fear is the most debilitating disease on the planet.<\/em> It is worse than hatred and in fact may be the precursor<\/em> to hatred.\u00a0 It is a stifling presence that keeps us from leaping, trusting ourselves and stepping into all that is in our best interest.\u00a0 Conflicts between races, countries and religions can often be boiled down to something born out of fear and lack of understanding.\u00a0 And then there is courage, the powerful, contagious and energizing attribute which expands our lives.<\/p>\n

Overwhelmingly, the majority of fears we spend so much energy worrying about usually never materialize.\u00a0 Knowing this and choosing to move through our fears takes us to a higher level of personal power in life.\u00a0 Persevering courageously through our fears gives us the opportunity to showcase our true character.\u00a0 The attitudes we hold and the actions we take when we are in that powerful state, make it possible to negotiate through what seems hard or even impossible.\u00a0 Seeking to understand<\/em> what may be unfamiliar, scary or threatening can transform fear into courage, compassion, or respect.\u00a0 With that comes the knowledge that we do not need to fear what is foreign or uncomfortable to us, but rather try to grow in our understanding of these things.<\/p>\n

\"\"Fear pollutes important decisions. It prompts someone to marry another they don\u2019t love out of a fear that they won\u2019t find someone better.\u00a0 Fear keeps people from ending unhealthy or toxic relationships,\u00a0 from finding a life\u2019s work that really jazzes them, starting a business, retiring, or moving to a new city. In caving to our fear we are closing ourselves off from countless opportunities for joy and fulfillment.\u00a0 Fear can scream so loudly that it makes it hard to hear what our soul really wants, but it is possible to hear beyond the head chatter of constant trepidation. Whether we are being called to step up with physical courage or moral courage our inner compass is clearly marked with our true north.\u00a0 Understand that being prudent and cautious is different from being fearful.\u00a0 Refusing to fly ever again because of security concerns is a decision steeped in fear. Jogging through Central Park during daylight hours rather than 11pm is cautious and prudent.<\/p>\n

Fears can be carried out to such extremes that it chokes the breath of life. It can keep you from healing, challenging yourself, growing and rising to your potential.\u00a0 Courage is a sort of spiritual spine available to each of us to the measure we choose to use it.\u00a0 Acts of courage infuse life with an unmatched aliveness and this way of being is worth vying for.<\/p>\n

Boost Your Courage:<\/strong><\/p>\n

o\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Visualize<\/strong> yourself successfully and happily doing the very thing you fear.\u00a0 Include the pride and confidence that will bubble up when you visualize your triumph.<\/p>\n

o\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Identify<\/strong> elements of your fear that can be positively impacted with your present day choices and preparation.\u00a0 You are more able to positively impact an outcome than you may credit yourself.<\/p>\n

o\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Investigate <\/strong>the roots of your fear to diffuse it. Perhaps an adult role model from your youth embodied a fear and passed it along to you. You may find your fear was not yours to begin with.<\/p>\n

o\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Decide <\/strong>what would be a small step for you to begin overcoming your fear. Outlining degrees of overcoming your fear will make the process much less daunting and boost your confidence.<\/p>\n

o\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Plan <\/strong>a controlled scenario to face your fear. If you are afraid of dogs set up a situation through a trusted alliance to hold a sleeping puppy or a sweet, elderly lap dog. If it is driving over bridges you fear, find a small bridge to master and a friend to accompany you for support.<\/p>\n

o\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Remember <\/strong>that courage is not the absence of fear, it is moving forward in spite of the fear.<\/p>\n

We often tolerate mediocrity in the name of staying in a familiar place either physically or emotionally.\u00a0 Refuse to let your dreams gather dust even one more day because \u201cfear\u201d or \u201chabit\u201d is taking its place.\u00a0 Choose to move past those things to find the greater happiness waiting for you. You will find as you make incremental changes, that you, like the Cowardly Lion in the classic tale The Wizard of Oz, had an abundant reservoir of courage within you from the start.<\/p>\n

Rena M. Reese is the founder of Soul Salon International<\/a>, an inspirational multimedia company which offers coaching and consulting, web-design, publishing support, and fundraising opportunities for individuals and groups.\u00a0 She is the author of several inspirational titles,<\/a> a professional speaker and coach as well as the host of a weekly radio program, The Soul Salon. Please visit <\/em>www.SoulSalonInternational.com<\/em><\/a> and connect with her on Twitter @TheSoulSalon.<\/em><\/p>\n

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