Battle Scars

I have a hunting dog that fears swimming.  No, he's not afraid of water.  In fact I can't keep him out of lakes and rivers, but he only goes knee deep.  He runs through streams splashing water high into the air.  He plunges into the lake up to his belly to fetch a stick.  He even dives his head underwater to save a sinking toy.  I suppose it's not really swimming that he fears.  He is afraid to step off a secure foothold into water too deep to touch the bottom.  It's paralyzing for him.  I have seen him  whine, whimper and look back for help as his favorite toy slowly floats away.  He will run on shore, dance in a circle, and then nervously race back into the lake only to stop short of going too deep.  He's limited.  He cannot fully enjoy something that he really wants to, playing in the water, because his fear of stepping off the ledge is just too great. 

Fear limits us all to some degree, but that's not always a bad thing.  A healthy fear often leads to good decisions and prevents mistakes.  For example, fear of illness can lead you toward good food choices and regular exercise.  In this example, a healthy fear results in a healthy lifestyle.  A healthy fear of traffic may cause you to look both ways before crossing a busy street.  Seem silly?  It's not really.  These are the type of everyday choices you are making, and to some extent, fear has played a role in your decision-making process.  Proverbs 9:10, NIV:  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."  Surely we can all agree that a little wisdom and understanding can positively impact our lives. 

The real problem is when we allow fear to disrupt our lives or negatively impact decisions.  Fear is often an irrational emotion.  Fear results in inaction and stagnation.  It disrupts logical thinking with shadows of doubt and "what ifs".  What may actually be a small concern seemingly magnifies a hundred-fold when fueled by fear.  Make no mistake, fear is a barrier to a more enjoyable and satisfying life.  Are your accomplishments limited because fear prevents you from trying?  Have you kept the same 'ole job because fear keeps you in the safety of your cubicle.  Will you settle for a mediocre life just to have a safe and non-threatening existence?  Every new and exciting idea that enters your mind can be drowned by a flood of apprehension and disbelief.  An unhealthy fear  manipulates your thoughts and steers you down a one-way path of indifference. 

I'm only a casual observer, but I've seen the results of fear and how it effects the lives of loved ones, and I get angry.  I've heard some exclaim how successful they could have been if this or that happened.  In all likelihood, they simply passed on the opportunity to do something greater because they feared losing what they have.  Remember my hunting dog - you gotta step off the ledge!  You must overcome your fear and accept some risk.  Each time you do it, it becomes easier. 

How do you overcome fear?  Wow, that's a big question and there is no single "one size fits all" answer.  There are different starting points for everyone.  Maybe something as simple as trying a new food or taking a new route to work will help.  The point is to break your routine.  Do something different.  Get comfortable with the uncomfortable  If you don't like crowds, start spending time at the mall.  When you start feeling more confident, introduce yourself to a stranger and offer to help carry their groceries.  As your confidence grows listen to the voices in your head that are holding you back.  Are they warning of a real danger (a healthy fear), or do they sound like Debbie Downer constructing a prison (an unhealthy fear). 

I'll wrap up with a prose I wrote many years ago.  Through some reading I became aware that failure continued to negatively impact our thoughts throughout our lives.  It's an odd phenomena, but it's common for an insignificant failure to play in our mind over-and-over again.  It's like a reel-to-reel beat down.  We continue to remember and dwell on those moments when things didn't go our way.  We have all failed at something, at sometime, and there's no shame in it.  In fact, hold your head high and wear your Battle Scars proudly.  Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment. 

Battle Scars
It is said the fear of failure is the number one reason people do not succeed.  

However, failure itself is not an indication of defeat, but the result of an individual battle; a one time struggle.
  In truth, the courage to fail is a prerequisite of success.
  Failures are simply marks, like battle scars, earned on the road to victory.