Is Fear Limiting You?

I suspect nothing holds more people back from realizing their true potential than fear. Fear is the root of almost everything negative. Anger is usually based on the fear of losing something important to us. Jealousy is being afraid you won't get your share. Hate is often the fear of that which is different. We could continue the list, but you get the idea. You can trace almost all the bad stuff in life back to fear.

Let me put it this way. All the bad decisions I have made in my life have been based on fear. I'll explain: I got into an abusive marriage because I feared losing a person who I thought I loved. I decided to get a divorce because I was afraid things could never get better. I agreed to allow my kids to move 2000 miles away from me because I was afraid my ex-wife would ruin my life if she lived closer. I can't tell you how many ideas I never tried because I was afraid someone would laugh at me. And don't even get me started on how many times I have failed to make sales calls or follow-ups with potential and existing clients because I was afraid they would reject me.

Here's the problem. Fear prevents us from carrying out God's instructions. We rationalize and re-prioritize, but the real reason we are not following orders is almost always that we are afraid. Oh, how fear holds us back! If we could just get through a day without fear, how much could we accomplish? The worst part is, almost all of our fears are irrational and over-blown.

Let's take a look at a few of the common fears for people who work for themselves or are on commission:

Call Reluctance: defined as finding anything to do so long as we don't have to get on the phone or face to face with someone. Typical Basis: Fear of being rejected or fear that the "hot prospect" you have been dreaming about, might wind up on the "do not call list."

Fear of Success: Fear you might get more than you deserve and then lose it.

Fear of Failure: Again, really fear of being rejected and/or labeled.

Fear or Competing: Very competitive people often fear taking part in contests or competitions because they think there's a chance they might not win.

Fear paralyzes. It cripples. It makes men into moles and molehills into mountains.

So what does God say about fear and how we should deal with it? Psalms sums it up pretty well.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:4

The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God, I trust, I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalms56:3-4

It makes sense when you think about it. If things are square with God, there's not much else to worry about. Believe in the principal of plenty. Since God made everything, he has no problem getting you enough to get by. Know God will meet your needs. Don't waste time on fear. When it slows you down, press on, secure in the knowledge that whatever happens is ok because you are moving forward with God.

The preceding was an excerpt from my e-book, "Beating Anxiety and Stress." You can view the entire e-book for free at http://mikes-ebooks.blogspot.com/2011/02/beating-anxiety-and-stress.html.