Fear

fear/fi(ə)r/
Noun: An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
Verb: Be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening:

Fear is a powerful thing-
at times it can be paralysing.
Some fears can cause a very strong physical response.
That "fight or flight" reaction
Fear can stop you from living-in big and small ways
it can hold you back from your true potential.

Fear is the giant brick wall smack dab in the middle of the road to your own success.
Fear of failure.
Fear of rejection.
Fear of what others might think.


Imagine what you could accomplish if those fears were to evaporate--or at least diminish.


So what is it that you are afraid of??


Do you hold back leaving it all out there on race day for fear of not reaching your goal?
Are you skipping that LT Interval session on the trainer because you know it is going to be painful?
Or not giving 100% on that track workout because you fear injury?
Maybe it is being afraid to try something new.


Identify-What IS IT that you fear?
Once you are able to accurately identify what it is you fear, you can take steps to overcoming it.


Fear is a vital response to physical and emotional danger—if we couldn't feel it, we couldn't protect ourselves from legitimate threats. But often we fear situations that are in no way life-or-death, and thus hang back for no good reason.  Trauma or bad experiences can trigger a fear response within us that is hard to quell. Yet exposing ourselves to our personal demons is the best way to move past them ~ Psychology Today


Focus on the positive-
How can addressing and overcoming this fear be of benefit?
Think about it--how will you life change for the better?
Writing down all the wonderful things you will gain in your life by overcoming this fear can be a powerful. Focus on those positive things to get motivated and inspired. Revisit your list when you feel discouraged, uncomfortable or afraid.

Take Action-
By taking steps--even baby steps--towards your goals you are making progress.

Do not fear "failure". You only truly FAIL when you do not try.
Every "failure" is an opportunity to learn.
To grow.
To improve.

I have learned more through races and training sessions that would be considered "fails" than the days that went just as planned.


For many years, even in my youth, I would worry and fret about little things-tests in school, new social situations, trying out for a team, etc. I would get myself all worked up and anxious about whatever it was. My Mom would always tell me that I was creating a "doomsday" scenario--and it was true. After I would EXPERIENCE these things, I would always end up wondering why I spent so much time and energy on FEAR. Because "IT" was never as bad or as scary as I had imagined it to be.


It was not until the last couple of years that I started testing my limits, stepping out of my comfort zone and doing new things.
The first day I stepped into the gym and I full of FEAR>
afraid that the other people would wonder what that fat chick was doing
afraid that I would get laughed at
afraid that I would not know how to turn on the treadmill
THAT FEAR of simply walking into the gym held me back and stopped me from getting fit for many years.
Of course, there were many more layers of fear that kept me trapped. FEAR of change. FEAR of being vulnerable.


That is when I decided that I would start facing my fears and
"get comfortable being uncomfortable"

Little by little, I realized that I had let these fears stop me from doing so many things. I have a new sense of freedom by casting fears-both big and small-aside and facing them head on. So I am pushing my own personal boundaries and seeing where it takes me.

It has been a a work in process and I have learned that the old saying is true:
The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself ~FDR



What "fear" is holding you back-
and what are you missing out on because of it?

FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY