I wonder if you, like me, have been presented with countless opportunities to take a different path in life but succumbed to the power of fear each time? Sometimes, the opportunities arose out of the blue and needed a quick decision. On many other occasions though, the opportunities arose because I’d had a dream and an ambition to try something new, to do something I had a passion for or to connect with someone I liked.

Each time, the opportunity passed me by and I was left frustrated and puzzled as to why things never changed. I know I’m not unique, as this happens to most people and I’m sure you’ve been there too. Fear, the most powerful of our emotions, is the villain who cheats us out of life-enhancing opportunities.

Have you ever imagined what your life would be like if fear simply didn’t exist?

Imagine how your life would be if an opportunity to change job arose. It could be a move to a new company, it could be a promotion to a more senior role or it could be a complete change of direction to a brand new career or starting a business. Imagine if you didn’t indulge fear by thinking “this could be too much for me.” Or “It’s too late to change now.” Or “why change anyway, things are OK as they are.”

Imagine how your life would be if you had an opportunity to connect with someone you really wanted to be with. Someone you find very attractive and who you can’t take your eyes off. Imagine if your fears didn’t influence your thoughts: “I know I’ll screw up if I go over and they’ll tell me to get lost. I never know what to say or do and I’ll just look like a loser. Besides, what would they see in someone like me?”

Imagine how exciting and fulfilling your life would be if an opportunity to experience adventure arose. Say a dangerous sport, travelling to distant, exotic lands, to live in a different country, and fear didn’t place its choking limitations on you: “Yes, I’d love to but I’m too old now.” Or “I’m not fit enough” or “I have a family so I can’t” or “What if it all goes wrong?”

Can you see how fear works by diverting your attention to the downside? You focus more and more on finding reasons and excuses for not taking action because you fear a negative outcome. And each time, an opportunity to grow, to learn new skills, to enjoy adventures and to experience more happiness is robbed from you.

That’s how fear works and if you indulge it, it will do it to you!

But imagine if fear didn’t exist in your life. Imagine what would happen, if, instead of focusing on the negative sides, your attention and focus shifted to the more positive aspects.

How would you react to opportunity without fear? A new job, a career shift, a new business - would you still refuse the opportunity or would you seize it?

How about that “someone special” you’d love to connect with but your knees turn to jelly if you even think about approaching? Would you be rooted to the spot in stony silence or would stride confidently over as fear wouldn’t make you walk like a baby giraffe and talk like a jabbering wreck?

How about all those exciting adventures? Would you pass up on them so you could carry on doing the same old same old or would you be filled with the courage to experience as many as you could and milk them for all they’re worth?

I think I know your answer! And to help you, think about this:

Fear only exists in one place: your mind. Many people, sometimes in spite of serious limitations and setbacks, have overcome all of fear’s excuses for missing out on opportunity, and you can overcome them too. Because nothing holds any fear in itself. Only your mind has the fear. Resolve to not let it place boundaries on your happiness any more.

It’s your life – imagine how you’d live it without fear and then live it!

Chris Green
www.conqueringfear.net