“A man who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary.”  ~ Seneca

Every human being wrestles with fear. In fact, evolution hardwired our ancestors with this emotion. In a very violent, take-no-prisoners world, it’s how they survived and why we’re here today. They listened to the fear and it continues to serve us today. However, it can also seriously undermine our success and happiness. In today’s world, much of what we fear is not life or death. Yet we tend to let fear override the rational side of our mind. Fear of failure, our boss being upset, looking foolish, not fitting in socially, and the list goes on. We can manage the consequences, but we let the fear stop us. 

Among my studies of personal development, one of the most insightful observations of fear comes from author T. Hans Ecker, who encourages us to view it as nature’s thermostat. When we’re trying something new, we are simply moving outside our comfort zone. Something is new, the thermostat clicks, and the fear kicks in. Instead of giving into the emotion, learn to override the thermostat of your mind with rational thought. You’ll always wrestle with fear. It’s how we’re made. Strive to make decisions based on facts rather than emotion. Face your fears, manage them in healthy ways, and you’ll find yourself happier and more successful. 

“Courage is resistance to fear; mastery of fear — not absence of fear.”  

~ Mark Twain

“I have spent most of my life worrying about things that never happened.”  ~ Mark Twain