Fear of our Fears

"Anxiety is nothing but re-experiencing our failures in advance"
-Seth Godin

As I prepared today for an important meeting I continuously sought the mirror to check my outfit, my notes to practice my speech, and the clock to check the time. Sure that I would have a bugger protrude from my nose, or a misdirected word stumble from my bumbling lips, I started to become a fear projecting prophet of my own demise.

Why do we do these things to ourselves? Why is the curling iron always presumed to be left on when driving towards Galveston Island? Why do monsters only hide in closets at night? Why do we assume we will fail if we follow our own path?

Anxiety is really nothing more than practicing for failure, and as long as that is what we practice that is what our results will most often be.

There is legitimate room for real fear. Such things like surviving in the jungle, running from a grizzly bear, and watching a tornado barrel towards our homes. But, do we really think that getting up to turn the outside light on will spook off the burglars who were hiding in our bushes, and then proceed to check every window in the house just in case they keep snooping.

Anxiety is simply our fear of fear, and how we embrace it makes all the difference. Two ways

1. You let it in. You seek out reassurance. You triple check that mirror. You look for 5 proof readers before posting that blog (mine is non-proofread). You do all of these things hoping that somebody will find a flaw, or a mistake, and that you will have a good excuse to keep practicing, and not bring your talent to market. It is that Resistance that keeps you from being great. That stinky little lizard brain that wants you to be mediocre, and self conscious, and scared of a world in which, if you tried, you could kick serious ASS.

2. You can just sit with it. Look at it. Explore it. Laugh at it. Sure this sounds easy, and it's not, I know that, but that's why I am writing it. Because it is not easy, but we all face it. Like I said it is that lizard brain, and we all have it. But, if you can accept that there is no reward for worriers, move past your fears, and bring your talents to the market, I promise you those anxious fears will never produce, and the YOU that shows up will be well worth the initial discomfort.

So what did I do this morning? I told my lizard brain to bite it. I removed my gaze from the mirror. I tossed my notes in the trash, I knew what I wanted to say without them. Anxiety took a backseat to the artist within me.

Peace
Craig