≡ Menu

Is Fear Your Greatest Enemy?

Fear rips the dreams from your sleep and prevents you from going forward in life.  It is the boogey man that steps up and stops you from taking those baby steps.  What can you do about that? Is fear the gatekeeper that you use to keep yourself bound in chains?

 Fear keeps you in chains

Photo by sarniebill1

What Does Fear Really Mean?

  • False   (That means NOT true)
  • Evidence (Is there any, really?)
  • Appearing (It just looks like that)
  • Real (Is it?) 

I am sure that you have seen this acronym before.  Think about it.  False Evidence APPEARING Real.  

We have great imaginations.  People who have fear do it very well, they do it very well and quickly.  They make fantastic pictures in their mind of catastrophes, large and small.

When I was small, I was afraid of monsters under the bed.  I did a brilliant job of imagining them under there, ready to leap out at me and eat me!  In fact, I slept with a light on in my room for a long time!  

I was really, really good at imagining those monsters, what they would look like, what they would sound like.  I could imagine the sound of my bones crunching as they ate me all up!  I had a great imagination, didn’t I?? 

Imagination can be your friend

 

Einstein said that “Imagination is greater than knowledge”. Fear is “imagining” or “imaging” or “picturing” a bad outcome. Do you play movies in your mind of negative scenarios?   

What if your ability to create those negative images in your mind is causing your fear?  It is a simple approach and it might be just that simple. 

Why would you do that to yourself….to keep yourself small?  What lies underneath that?  At one time, in the past it is possible that you made a decision that you were not good enough. 

Decision Time

If you were the person who made that original decision, then you are the person who can make another decision, a different one, this time.  When you decide that enough is enough, you can break those chains that bind you. You can step,one foot in front of the other, into the light. 

Time for some SMART Goals

  • Specific and simple
  • Measurable and meaningful
  • All areas of life, as if now
  • Realistic and responsible
  • Timed and Toward what you want 

Make a plan.  It’s simple really.  Use mind mapping, write them on 3 x5 cards, brainstorm, let your mind run free and see what you come up with. 

Write it down.  Put it in a place where you can see it. Take that incredible imagination that you have and turn it towards creating a great now and a wonderful future. 

When you are done with the plan, step back and visualize the outcome in your mind.  Feel the joy that will be yours when you manifest that goal, make those good feelings bigger and more intense.  Imagine that it is even better than you thought it could be. 

Know that you are good enough, because you are. Follow that path that you are meant to follow. It’s all there, waiting for you. You can have those dreams if you really want them.  Yes, you can.  

The following two tabs change content below.

Sherie

I am a Relationship Coach who helps others create happy, healthy, loving relationships…including the relationship they have with themselves…by breaking through those blocks and barriers to success. I use various techniques gathered through training as a Master Practitioner of NLP, timeline, hypnosis and common sense gathered through life experience.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Susan Preston November 12, 2011, 10:08 am

    Great article, Sherie! One that resonates with us all. I love the Great Acronym. Thank you and have a great day 🙂

    • Sherie November 12, 2011, 12:24 pm

      Thank you, Susan!! Back at ya!! : D

  • Michele November 12, 2011, 7:37 am

    Fear and imagination…what a combination. WHere does all of this come from? Just imagine, if when we were all thinking monsters under the bed we could have changed our thoughts to treasures under the bed. What a different world we would live in. Thanks Sherie. I’m off to think treasures!

    • Sherie November 12, 2011, 12:24 pm

      Love it, Michele!! “Thinking treasures”…..brilliant!! Thanks for the comment!

  • Norma Doiron@Social Media | Graphics | Web Design | Health, Wellness, Weight Loss November 10, 2011, 6:01 pm

    False Evidence APPEARING Real… Yup! Experienced that. For many years. No more, it’s not a part of my life. Been set free! YOUPIE!
    Norma Doiron @ the LEARNED Preneur

    • Sherie November 10, 2011, 10:23 pm

      Glad to hear that., Norma!!

  • Phila Hoopes November 10, 2011, 11:03 am

    Thanks for this great advice, Sherie…fear can be such a barrier, even when we think we know better. Appreciating your insights!

    • Sherie November 10, 2011, 12:03 pm

      Thank you, Phila, I appreciate your comment!!

  • Lorii Abella November 9, 2011, 10:54 pm

    I love the acronym for fear. This is a great post. Thanks for sharing. Lorii

  • Nancy Olson, The Celiac Warrior November 9, 2011, 6:36 pm

    Sherie I love the SMART goals! They are basic but puts everything in line for achiving great things! You are great for sharing this with others! Thanks

    • Sherie November 9, 2011, 6:55 pm

      Thank you, Nancy, and you are very welcome!!

  • Alexandra McAllister November 9, 2011, 3:41 pm

    Great article Sherie! Yes, I’ve heard that acronym before, many times and I agree! Sure I struggle with FEAR at times and when I catch myself, I give FEAR a kick in the butt and go on with my day! Some times it is easier said than done, I admit. I am a work in progress! LOL! Thanks for sharing!

    • Sherie November 9, 2011, 4:27 pm

      Aren’t we all a work in progress?? LOL Thanks, Alexandra!!!

  • AJ November 9, 2011, 3:28 pm

    I love your acronym for FEAR!
    AJ

    • Sherie November 9, 2011, 4:27 pm

      Thank you, AJ!

  • Solvita November 9, 2011, 3:22 pm

    So many great points in here! I love it! Imagination is everything your closest friend and biggest enemy…so why not use it to imagine something great and positive??! Thanks Sherie! 🙂

    • Sherie November 9, 2011, 4:28 pm

      Exactly!! Thank you, Solvita!!

  • Rhonda Uretzky November 9, 2011, 2:12 pm

    Fear can be very real…but then reality is just a manifestation of what you’ve been focused on in the past. So once you see it – its already gone!

    • Sherie November 9, 2011, 2:47 pm

      Thanks for your comment, Rhonda!

  • Dr. Daisy Sutherland November 9, 2011, 2:12 pm

    Awesome Acronym!! I must admit I have never heard of it..but it certainly applies to that particular word. It’s truly amazing what fear can do to people. I refuse to allow it to dictate my life as I had when I was younger…I’ve learned so much from taking risks and now am teaching my children the same!:) Thanks for a great post!

    • Sherie November 9, 2011, 2:46 pm

      Thanks, Daisy, sounds like you have a good handle on dealing with it!!

  • David Norrington November 9, 2011, 10:32 am

    I’m on the same page as you! I specialise in the removal of phobias and the associated fears and I couldn’t agree more with you that fear can be a great enemy!

    • Sherie November 9, 2011, 10:56 am

      David, you certainly are!! That is very exciting!!

  • Julie Weishaar November 9, 2011, 9:36 am

    Hi Sherie. I have not heard of that acronym before (I live in a cave!) but I love it. Yes, fear is what holds people back from doing so many things. Great post – thanks for sharing your wisdom!

    • Sherie November 9, 2011, 10:57 am

      Thanks, Julie!! I am glad that I was able to shed some light in your cave…… : D : D