Fear: Does it Fuel or Freeze You?

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do”.- Eleanor Roosevelt

Several years back my mother fell, sustaining a neck fracture. I drove as fast as I could to the next state to be by her side at the hospital. A miracle happened when mom survived the fall. Due to other medical complications, mom had to make a choice about having a feeding tube to sustain her nutrition.   She made a choice to fight for her life. The moment she chose to have the feeding tube inserted, mom fought by stepping into her fear.  Her fear was never being independent again.

“I’m scared, Lisa”, mom said. I watched her lie in bed, with a halo attached to her skull so she wouldn’t move her neck. I held her hand, praying for her healing.  Her rehabilitation was difficult but she fought with great determination to return to independent living at home. And she accomplished her goal.

c I shared this experience about my mom to show what incredible perseverance one person could possess to achieve what seemed to be an impossible goal.  Maybe my story has reminded you of someone you know, or even yourself.

Fear elicits the fight or flight response -rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, muscular tension and other responses to chemical changes in your body. The fear reaction is needed for self-preservation when your life is at risk. But when does fear become a hindrance in your life?

Fear can freeze and block you from dealing with everyday activities.  Fear can allow us give away our power in situations, believing that you have no choice but to remain right where you stand.  But that’s the deception of fear. Reaching out for support can help transcend you through a space where it seems impossible to move.  Support from others can help you to step though so that you seen life in a completely different way.  I choose to have coaches and mentors in my life to help me transcend the fear that binds me.

Mom did not heal without a team of people supporting her.

There might be something you know in your heart that you want to accomplish but fear is blocking your path.  The more time that a fear remained untouched, the stronger it will grow. Your perception about the fearful situation can become distorted. Have you ever believed that your situation was impossible to bust through?

You don’t have to remain stuck. Make a decision to stop feeding the fear that keeps you bound up. Pick one thing you have been afraid to take action on that has created stress in your life. Your freedom awaits you.

 

For over 25 years in the health care profession, Lisa Birnesser has studied stress relief techniques and have helped hundreds of people reduce stress in their lives.Lisa specializes stress management coaching by helping people do what matters most every day.