Overcoming your biggest fear

What's the biggest thing you fear? Loss of a loved one, losing your job, someone kidnapping your child? How about speaking in front of people, or, being called on in a class or board meeting? Fear of heights, your 401K tanking, death?

No matter who you are you probably fear something, so let's agree that fearing something isn't the end of the world. We all face different types of fear.

The key, of course, is to not be controlled by that fear but to be in charge of your fear.

I talk about fear a lot and that puts me in charge of my fear. I have no fear of facing my fears. Actually, for the most part, I don't fear much of anything anymore because I've learned to immediately deal with any fear that comes my way.

And, I don't mean stuffing it or simply to compartmentalize it. I mean I deal with it head on, face to face. I challenge it, demand to know it's source, and if there's any basis in fact to it. I tear it apart and analyze it.

Fear hates to be analyzed.

When I first learned to climb mountains I began with "starter" climbs. I soon learned that a fall of ten feet could kill me as much as 100' or 1000' so it wasn't as scary anymore.

When I was in sales I learned that just because someone said "No" it didn't mean everyone would say no, I just had to keep asking and the law of averages would take over.

When I started my first company, and had so many people telling me not to, I learned that the only one I could count on was me. As scary as that was I learned to believe in myself and that it didn't matter if no one else did.

I've been rejected, ignored, betrayed, sold out, undermined, embarrassed, laughed at, accused, abused, and used. I'll bet you have been, too. You learn to face these situations or you hide under a rock in fear. At some point you have to rise up, look these things square in the face, and refuse to be intimidated by them.

Or you don't. It's up to you.

You'll find that fear will flee when you confront it, so why not confront it? Oh, yeah... fear of confrontation!

For those looking for a simple, spiritual way to view this, here it is. I have learned to be courageous because I know my God is with me twenty four hours a day, every day, forever. I know He will never leave me or forsake me. I know He loves me and will help me. I know He will never condemn me. I know that if even my own family disowns me He never will.

I do not fear because I know He loves me.

I do not fear because I know He's with me.

I do not fear because I know He'll never leave me.

I do not fear because I know He'll help me.

I do not fear because I know He'll heal me.

I do not fear because I know Him!

I pray that God will give everyone a Spirit of wisdom and revelation that all will know Him better.