Facing Fears

This week, we learned to face our fears. As a connoisseur of TED talks, I have seen a couple talks about facing your fears. I saw one no more than 3 weeks ago that talked about writing down your fears so you could deconstruct them. It was funny to see that our assignment for lesson 4 required us to do that.

When it comes to business and providing for my family, I have great fears. When written down, they seem petty or insignificant; however, I think they're massive. Don't get me wrong. I have done more things in business than your average person, or at least I think I have. I started selling paper airplanes in the first grade. I got in trouble in the 4th grade for selling snacks for $.25 which my dad bought for $.10 each. I started a lawn mowing business with my best friend when I was 16. There are several others. Those were small "businesses" that, if failed, did not harm the people dependent on me. I have a family of 7. With so many depending on me and being that I am the sole provider, it's not as easy for me to go on a limb and take the huge risk and jump, hoping my wings will catch the wind as I fall and send me soaring. I have many ideas for becoming wealthy. I have even incorporated a couple of them and they're succeeding in their own rights, but fear is holding me back from exploding them to a new level of ferocious success. I can envision how amazing my endeavors could be, yet I hold back.

I enjoyed contemplating what would happen if this or that happened and how I'd crawl back to normalcy. Right now, though, I am happy. I have a job I enjoy. I am successful in various ways, earning a fantastic income. Even then, I long for when I can still do what I enjoy and not have to be beholden to a clock and set number of hours worked for the day.

What I learned this week was I can fight my fears, and I am fighting them. I also learned, especially as I did my book report on the Ministry of Business, that my wife is there to support me and will continue to be a strength and a coach. We are mighty together. I am so grateful to have someone who pushes me to do the best I can. When I feel like stopping, she's my mentor to push me past fears, depressing setbacks, and she helps me dream. Everyone needs a coach, mentor, and support. I have mine. Fear will still lurk, but together, we can fight it, one determined step after another.