What Are You Scared Of?
Every morning, when I enter my office, I see a quote on the back of my door. I first encountered this Marianne Williamson quote in the movie, Akeelah and the Bee.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.”
Have you ever wondered what scares you? Have you ever really sat down in a chair and thought about what blocks you from being further than your current situation?
Some people say life is set up to keep them down. And to some degree, they are correct. Life isn’t set up to make it easy for you to succeed. In many cases, the harder you push at life, the harder it pushes back. Sometimes, it can feel as if life smacks you pretty hard even before you’ve had a chance to swing.
But when I think about it, the real reason I don’t always push as hard as I can is because I’m scared of something. Sure, I make it sound reasonable in my brain.
“I don’t want to leave people behind.”
“I don’t want to make people feel awkward.”
“I don’t want to step out ahead of the real leader.”
“I don’t want to make them feel too uncomfortable.”
“If I do it now, then I’ll be expected to do it all the time and that’s tiring.”
“I don’t know how invested I am right now.”
“I don’t have the bandwidth.”
“The kids have their activities.”
“I’m invested in so many other things right now.”
“I don’t want to start it and not be able to finish.”
I could keep going. All of these are legit. They are real responses and ones to be considered. However, let’s take the ‘bandwidth’ excuse. Most often, it means in order for me to do something, I would have to say NO to something else and I don’t want to say NO to that thing. And this is a core tenet of excuses. In order for us to do what’s important, we may have to let go of something else which we happen to like or feel obligated to. This is scary!
For me, energy is an excuse I use from time to time.
“Can I keep this up?”
“Will I want to do this in two months?”
“If I start this, will others expect me to keep going and what if I don’t feel like it or if I’m tired?”
These are real thoughts.
However, the issue for most of us is we don’t take the time to process these thoughts and admit they are real. Sure, I can make the words nicer. I can say, I’m concerned about…or, I don’t want to commit to. But the truth is, most often, I’m scared. And Williamson’s quote rings true. I’m scared of my light. I’m scared of how powerful I really am.
But, her quote goes on to say,
“You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.”
GUILTY! I’ve done this and still fight it daily.
“We are all meant to shine as children do.”
It’s true. Look at the children around you. Before we place faux barriers on them, they are free. They are creative. Their imaginations roam and nothing is impossible. When you look into their eyes, you see sparkle, light, hope, possibility, potential, joy, excitement, discovery, anticipation, openness, wonder.
“We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us. It’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
The only way to be free from your fear is to admit it exists. This calls for stating it out loud and looking it in the eye. When we cover fear and cover FOR fear, it grows in silence. When we rationalize and act like it isn’t alive, it gathers strength and begins to wrap its fingers around the throat of our potential.
However, killing fear or sapping its power isn’t a complex process. We start by exposing it for what it is…a lie. Then, we choose the path of Light. And we push forward knowing whatever obstacles we meet are only there to strengthen us for the journey ahead.
So, what are you scared of? Me? I’m scared of the expectations that come with wild success!! There. It’s out in the open! Now, let’s step on its head and GO!
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About The Author
My name is Robert Kennedy III. I’m a professional speaker and author. I speak and write mainly about leadership and communication. Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or on my website, RobertKennedy3.com
