Facing your fears

I’m not sure if the picture is actually blurry or if the camera picked up my shaking! LOL 😉

I’m a big scaredy cat.  My list of fears isn’t based on logic, but they exist nonetheless. Heights, water, the unknown, unfriendly animals with big teeth… the list goes on.  I’m sure this post could be sorely based on the things that have the power to give me sleepless nights!  This summer I decided (aka was encouraged) to face some of these fears, and I’m happy to share that I survived to write about the experience! 🙂

In the span of 10 days, I ha d faced my fear of water and my fear of heights.  In the past, I would only go into water that was shallow enough for my feet to touch the water.  In July, with the aid of a life jacket, I went into water that was deep enough that the bottom couldn’t be seen, never mind touched!  I’ve never learned how to swim, and the idea of going in, even with the life jacket on scared the hell out of me.  I did it anyway and finally got to experience the joy of floating in the sea.  It was amazing!  I enjoyed it so much that I successfully experimented in shallower waters without the life jacket! 😀

Zip lining is what I did to face my fear of heights.  I was convinced by the woman at the tour desk that it wasn’t that bad and that I should give it a try.  It was only after I signed up that I was told it wasn’t one, but FIVE zip lines.  Let’s just say that was a combined OMG WTF moment, but what’s a girl to do?  I had committed to it and I was going to do it, even if I peed myself doing so!  It was an awesome experience and the views we were able to take in were phenomenal, making it well worth it!

Isn’t that how it is with most fears?  We build them up to such a magnitude that we can’t imagine the possibility of overcoming them.  When you make the decision to take back control from your fears, it is such a liberating experience.  You realize that the boogeyman isn’t as big and scary as you’ve made him out to be.   You start to question the validity of other fears you’re still holding on to.  You begin to wonder “If I can overcome this fear, what else am I capable of?”

If we allow it to, fear can paralyze us and prevent us from living a fulfilled life.  When you make the decision to stop letting your fears control you, your perspective shifts.  Instead of thing “there’s no way” you start wondering “what amazing opportunity is waiting for me when I do?”  Let your fears challenge you rather than limit you and watch how the universe responds! ♥