How I Ditched Fear and Worry in 3 Steps

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.

Matt 6:27-30

Starting this blog was hard.

I have been wanting to start for a long time but delayed because I was afraid…

…that no one would read it because there are “a billion” blogs out there by now.

…that I have nothing to say that would be of value to others.

…that I would be criticized for something I write or for putting myself
“out there.”

When I finally decided to push through my fear and just start, the fears became more intense. It felt like I literally had to push through a strong barrier and that the act of pushing made me physically exhausted. So I delayed again by fussing over all the details of my site, making sure it was perfect before I put it out there. I rationalized that I needed to put things off since it was not ready yet for the light of day.

The kicker is that I engage in this behavior even though I know better. The scripture above is one of my favorite passages because I tend to struggle with worry. When I find myself faltering, I go to this scripture for strength and encouragement.

Do you worry excessively? Are you being held back from doing something new because of fear of failure and worry?

Here are three steps I took to allow this blog to see the light of day. They can also help you release yourself from the power of fear and worry:

Acknowledge the fear

Speak it out loud. Write it down. Try to discern why you feel the way you do. What need is holding on to this fear satisfying? Often its the need to distract ourselves from some hard truth about our lives or circumstances we find ourselves in. Or maybe it’s the need to avoid failure. Consider the long term benefit of facing the difficulty now rather than the short term need to put it off.

Choose to act despite the fear

Do not wait for the fear to subside or for things to be perfect before acting. It will likely not happen and you will likely never act. Do not surrender to the fear by engaging in perfectionism or procrastination. If you are facing a monumental problem or decision, take one small step today in the direction you want to go. Seek the guidance of a trusted advisor or friend.

Recognize that the world didn’t end when you acted

Did some of the things you feared come true? Did all of them come true? How did it make you feel? Was it as bad as you thought it was going to be? Often, the things we fear most never come to pass. If you did fail, consider how that experience can be useful to you in the future. Failure is one of our greatest teachers.

There is something else to consider that will help make this process easier: Repeat. Long held fears do not let go that easily. This process will take time, patience, and repetition. It will get easier and the power fear has over you will diminish over time.

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Share your thoughts…