When we first broached this subject, we identified the what, why, and how of our challenge:

• What do we want to do?  Learn how to identify, manage, work through and overcome our fears.
• Why do we want to do so?  To keep them from limiting our performance and robbing our joy.
• How?  Well…that’s the part we’re working on today.

The sad fact is that most people will allow a false, unhealthy, defeating belief that they can’t find a way to overcome their fears to keep them from ever reaching peak performance or achieving their true and deepest dreams in life.  The good news is that you are not most people.  And as we know, there is a solution to everything…if you’re willing to dig deep enough.

If you’ll remember, I asked you to stop and consider your own personal challenges with fear: “What are you afraid of?  Do you have different fears in your personal and professional life?  How long have these fears been haunting you?  Have they caused any unhealthy symptoms, side effects, or results in your life thus far?  Would you imagine that these fears have prevented any successes or victories in your life?  Are you prone to retreating, hesitating, procrastinating or holding back in any form due to your fears?  If you had to put a price tag on it, how much would you imagine that your fears have cost you so far across the course of your lifetime?”

When we stop and really consider the answers to these questions, the necessity and priority of finding a way to wage war on these fears and win the battle once and for all becomes extremely clear.  And guess what?  Even this conversation alone can cause even more fears to surface…like the fear of having to work though our fears!  So, today I’d like us to devise a simple strategy for doing just that.

1.       Make a written list of everything you think you’re afraid of.

2.      For every fear you’ve identified, next write down a basic plan of what would be required to work through that fear.  If necessary, do some research to help you devise a strong and clear game plan.  Include dates of when you will take each step.

3.      Enlist an accountability partner.  Share your goal for busting through these fears, discuss your plan for doing so, and ask for their commitment in helping you hold yourself accountable.  Put some ground rules in place, so they feel confident in holding you to your word.

4.      Take action!  Of course, this is always the toughest part.  Please know that you can take an inch-by-inch approach, or you may prefer to tackle the whole monster in one fell swoop.  For example, if you struggle with a fear of public speaking, you may want to take a public speaking class or join a Toastmasters group where they will gently guide you toward your desired finish line.  On the other hand, let’s say that approval of others is a fear on your list.  If you’d rather a rip-the-band-aid-off-quickly approach, you could follow author Tim Ferriss’ advice and lay down on the floor in the middle of a busy Starbucks for 30 seconds.  He says to simply lay there, count to 30 in your head, then calmly get back up and resume your normal routine.  I can’t help but laugh at the visual image of that option, but it promises to be a very freeing experience!

5.      Analyze your results, make any necessary adjustments, and repeat this five-step process until you feel confident that you have won the battle over your fears.  And don’t be afraid to ask for help at any step along the way!

Before we wrap up, it’s important to point out one very important piece of information.  The objective is not to become fear-free.  That’s not practical or necessary.  Even the world’s greatest champions have fears.  Our mission is developing the trait of taking action in spite of our fears.  As the saying goes, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”  In fact, John Wayne states it most clearly, “Courage is being scared to death – but saddling up anyway.”

As we submit to the process, lean into our fears, and begin chiseling away at those prison walls that have kept us locked up for so long, we’ll begin to catch a glimpse of the most beautiful freedom on earth…a life where our fears don’t keep us walled in.  A life where we are finally able to reach our peak performance and achieve our deepest desires.

So, as crazy as this sounds, give thanks for your fears today.  Why?  Because as you embark on this journey of busting through those fears, you will grow into the person you were born to be.  Remember, our character development must precede the performance that drives the results we desire.  And as with everything else that truly matters in life, it won’t be easy…but it will be worth it.  You are worth it.

Until next time…keep Digging Deeper.

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