Facing My Fears

After writing my post yesterday on Embracing Our Differences, I started thinking more and more about fear . . . how fear can control you, take over your life, cause you to become defensive, cause you to react negatively, cause you to stop yourself from doing something . . . wonderful.

Often fear is unnecessary.

I don’t like fear.

But I have it.

Monday afternoon, my oldest and dearest friend and her mother stopped at my house for a visit. I adore both my friend and her Mom. They are as much a part of my family as my own Mom and siblings are, as they have both known me for 32 years now (wow – just saying that they’ve known me for 32 years feels like they’ve been a part of my life forever, and they truly have.) They have seen me through so many chapters in my life, and have been by my side, supporting and encouraging me all the way.

They sat in my living room visiting while looking through my scrapbooks, listening to my silly stories of life and the chaos of our home, talking about my dreams and ideas, and supporting every single part of it. My friend reads my blog daily, and her Mom reads it as often as my friend prints it out for her. And there in my living room, she filled up my ego with sentiments about my blog. “Your writing is just wonderful, Leanne!” she said. Truthfully, who wouldn’t love that? She told me that I need to write a book or submit my blog stories to a publisher. I smiled politely, shook my head “no-no” a number of times, and laughed out loud when she said, “So, what’s the problem?”

What’s the problem?

If I had a nickel every time I wondered what the “problem” was, I’d have a big ol'bunch of nickels.

I asked her how much time she had to hear what the problem was . . . . Should I start at the beginning? And she encouraged me by saying, “No, really . . . what is the problem? Get out there. Do it.”

I thought long and hard about this woman, who, in a short visit, wanted to help me with my “problems” and who believes in me so much, that she wants to stop at nothing to help me make my dreams come true. So last night, I thought about what the problem really was.

What is the problem?

Fear.

Fear of failure.

Fear of rejection.

Fear of criticism.

Fear of feelings being hurt.

Fear of being misunderstood.

Fear of being overly sensitive.

Fear of not being taken seriously.


Fear of the unknown.

If you don’t try to do something outside of your comfort, then you can’t fail, right? You can’t get rejected. You can’t hurt. What is it that FDR said? The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself. Ah, such a wise man. Look at what he tackled in his life. If he had stopped because of fear, imagine what our country and our world would look like today.

I’m not trying to change the world, as FDR did. But perhaps my little stories and my words can reach someone, somewhere. So, what to do? To my friends Mom, the answer is very simple. Do IT.

I came up with 15 million (only 15 million) excuses why my words wouldn’t be published. But this dear woman would have no time for them. She sat there shaking her head at every single thing I said. What would I submit? How would I do it? Where would I send my submissions? When would I have the time? There are thousands of brilliant blog writers out there, why would I expect my words to be considered? My friend and her Mom had all the answers and scenarios mapped out for each obstacle I put out there. What if know one likes it? “Even if you get 100 rejections, at least you tried,” my friend replied.

Those darn good people in my life sure make it difficult to fear, don’t they?

So, my friends, I’m not sure what all of this means. I guess I’m writing in my attempt of working out the thoughts of that afternoon with you. Perhaps this will someday be the acknowledgement page of my first book (how’s THAT for throwing positive thinking out in the universe? I said my “first” book, eh?? Pretty positive, huh?) Whatever it is, I am so very grateful that even when facing fear, I am surrounded by people who will be right beside me, face to face with fear itself.

Any fears you are facing right now? I'd love to know about them...please leave a comment and share.