Facing Fears and Challenges Head On

Facing your fears and obstacles isn't easy. We tend to avoid the pain, struggles, and challenges we face in life. Fear plays a big role in this as we are afraid to explore our insecurities, experience any type of pain, get out of our comfort zone, etc. Fear is the subtle root of a lot of our actions in life. It is the puppeteer of many people, directing their every move. The tricky thing about fear is it is deceptive. It tries to take on different forms so that you don't believe you are afraid. For example, ego and jealousy comes from fear. These are just different manifestations of it. The more you better yourself and love yourself, the less you will see fear taking control of your life. In order to reach our potential and be the best we can be, we must go through difficulties. These difficulties are inevitable.

Picture a mountain. The top of the mountain is your potential. The only way for you to reach the top is by climbing. You can't walk around the mountain, avoiding challenges and your fears. You must climb through the chaos and the troubles in order to get to where you want to go. The strongest people don't let outside distractions and problems interrupt their inner peace and calm. Be that strong person.

When fear comes knocking on your door with doubts, ego, jealousy, anger, hatred, self-hatred, self-pity, feelings of defeat, etc., know that you don't have to let fear in. Live with the knocking. If you try to run from the fear, you are really just focusing on it more, opening the door to its disabling grasp. This will allow the fear to grow and consume you. There was a TED Talk that discussed how you need to "drop the rope" instead of playing tug-a-war with your anxiety. This also applies to fear and other negative emotions. You tend to forget about your fears when you let it exist, but pave your way through each challenge you face. For example, if you are playing a sport and you are experiencing fear, nerves, and doubts, focus on controlling what you can control and putting everything you got out on the court or field. When you try your best, there is nothing else to give. We aren't perfect. We aren't robots. We are human. Give all of your effort in your sport and in life, and be proud of yourself. There is nothing else you could have done to have done something "better." You won't have regrets by controlling your controllables well. Your controllables are Effort, Attitude, Gratitude, Learning, Enjoyment (Joy), Sportsmanship, and Focusing on Playing Freely (this spells EAGLES F) (this was created by Angelo A. Rossetti).