Fear can be a wonderful feeling in our lives, protecting us from dangerous situations and keeping us safe.
Fear
can
be
a
wonderful
feeling
in
our
lives
,
protecting
us
from
dangerous
situations
and
keeping
us
safe
.
But fear can also limit our lives significantly.
But
fear
can
also
limit
our
lives
significantly
.
While it may not be conscious, fear may make us think we are unacceptable or that what we have to offer isn't valuable.
While
it
may
not
be
conscious
,
fear
may
make
us
think
we
are
unacceptable
or
that
what
we
have
to
offer
is
n't
valuable
.
Fear may make us feel that we are not safe being ourselves.
Fear
may
make
us
feel
that
we
are
not
safe
being
ourselves
.
To avoid feeling fear, we may limit our lives greatly, living in tiny boxes.
To
avoid
feeling
fear
,
we
may
limit
our
lives
greatly
,
living
in
tiny
boxes
.
Living this way gives us the illusion of safety but leaves us with an unfulfilling life of no passion.
Living
this
way
gives
us
the
illusion
of
safety
but
leaves
us
with
an
unfulfilling
life
of
no
passion
.
If we shine a light on many of our fears, we see they have a very limited view of what is "safe" and how to "protect" us.
If
we
shine
a
light
on
many
of
our
fears
,
we
see
they
have
a
very
limited
view
of
what
is
``
safe
''
and
how
to
``
protect
''
us
.
Many of our fears are concerned only with protecting us from humiliation and failure.
Many
of
our
fears
are
concerned
only
with
protecting
us
from
humiliation
and
failure
.
While these fears are doing their jobs incredibly well, they are doing so with faulty and outdated programming.
While
these
fears
are
doing
their
jobs
incredibly
well
,
they
are
doing
so
with
faulty
and
outdated
programming
.
Many fears we have as adults are trying to protect us as they protected us when we were children.
Many
fears
we
have
as
adults
are
trying
to
protect
us
as
they
protected
us
when
we
were
children
.
Indeed, many of our current, automatic reactions to fear were actually formed when we were children.
Indeed
,
many
of
our
current
,
automatic
reactions
to
fear
were
actually
formed
when
we
were
children
.
Even so, it's important not to judge ourselves for feeling these types of fears.
Even
so
,
it
's
important
not
to
judge
ourselves
for
feeling
these
types
of
fears
.
If we judge ourselves, we will bury our fears or disguise them.
If
we
judge
ourselves
,
we
will
bury
our
fears
or
disguise
them
.
By denying our fears, however, we also deny our energy, creativity and passion.
By
denying
our
fears
,
however
,
we
also
deny
our
energy
,
creativity
and
passion
.
So what do we do with fear?
So
what
do
we
do
with
fear
?
We recognize the fear for what it is--- a feeling we've experienced many times in the past and a feeling we will experience many times in the future.
We
recognize
the
fear
for
what
it
is
--
-
a
feeling
we
've
experienced
many
times
in
the
past
and
a
feeling
we
will
experience
many
times
in
the
future
.
We become very familiar with our own particular brand of fears and how we allow them to control our lives.
We
become
very
familiar
with
our
own
particular
brand
of
fears
and
how
we
allow
them
to
control
our
lives
.
It is especially beneficial for each of us to become aware of the particular behavior patterns we've adopted when we feel fear, so we can look at our reactions with a sense of humor and compassion.
It
is
especially
beneficial
for
each
of
us
to
become
aware
of
the
particular
behavior
patterns
we
've
adopted
when
we
feel
fear
,
so
we
can
look
at
our
reactions
with
a
sense
of
humor
and
compassion
.
Then, if we wish, we can choose a different response, which can be a scary yet very exciting experience.
Then
,
if
we
wish
,
we
can
choose
a
different
response
,
which
can
be
a
scary
yet
very
exciting
experience
.
Fear can be a wonderful feeling in our lives, protecting us from dangerous situations and keeping us safe. But fear can also limit our lives significantly. While it may not be conscious, fear may make us think we are unacceptable or that what we have to offer isn't valuable. Fear may make us feel that we are not safe being ourselves.  To avoid feeling fear, we may limit our lives greatly, living in tiny boxes. Living this way gives us the illusion of safety but leaves us with an unfulfilling life of no passion. If we shine a light on many of our fears, we see they have a very limited view of what is "safe" and how to "protect" us. Many of our fears are concerned only with protecting us from humiliation and failure. While these fears are doing their jobs incredibly well, they are doing so with faulty and outdated programming. Many fears we have as adults are trying to protect us as they protected us when we were children. Indeed, many of our current, automatic reactions to fear were actually formed when we were children.  Even so, it's important not to judge ourselves for feeling these types of fears. If we judge ourselves, we will bury our fears or disguise them. By denying our fears, however, we also deny our energy, creativity and passion.  So what do we do with fear? We recognize the fear for what it is--- a feeling we've experienced many times in the past and a feeling we will experience many times in the future. We become very familiar with our own particular brand of fears and how we allow them to control our lives. It is especially beneficial for each of us to become aware of the particular behavior patterns we've adopted when we feel fear, so we can look at our reactions with a sense of humor and compassion. Then, if we wish, we can choose a different response, which can be a scary yet very exciting experience.