Fear is powerful enough to keep you from achieving your goals and live our best life. It feeds stagnation and keeps us from taking advantage of opportunities. Many people live in self-made prisons of their fears.
The reason most people can’t walk into the fullness that God has in store for their life, fulfilling their vision, is because of fear.
Jari Roomer, founder of Personal Growth Lab writes about four fear that keep us from reaching of full potential.
- fear of rejection is the biggest out there. We’ve all been rejected in our lives. Whether it was the rejection from a university, a job interview or by someone from the opposite sex. And rejection hurts. It makes us feel inadequate. It lowers our self-esteem and confidence. In some cases, it can hurt so bad that people might even slip into depression.
- fear of failure is another big reason many people don’t achieve their best life possible. The fear of failure can be so paralysing that people decide to procrastinate repeatedly, even though they continue talking about their goals. Not acting is a more significant failure than ‘failing’ at your goals. When you fail at your goal, despite taking action, you’d still learn valuable lessons and therefore grow. But if you procrastinate, you won’t learn anything. You’ll only waste your time.
- fear of success, yes it’s possible to fear the success you are striving for. Because success is scary. Fulfilling your true potential is scary. Why? Because it’s unknown territory. And we’re practically hardwired to label anything unknown as scary. Like those who procrastinate, because they fear failure, you can keep yourself safe from facing your true limits by avoiding opportunities and putting things off.
- fear of ridicule is a more subtle form of fear of rejection, but it’s still a massive limiting factor for many people. People willing to take the initiative to try out new ideas, follow unexplored paths or create a better life for themselves will constantly be ridiculed by some. Everyone who’s ever made it in life or business looked like a fool in some people’s opinion. Successful people kept pushing until they became an expert in their field.
We were not created to live in fear. God wants us to live with boldness, confidence, peace, and impact. We can overcome fear by faith. The way to overcome fear is by faith in God. Replace your worries with faith. The antidote to fear is faith.
Psalm 34:4(ESV) I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Matthew 6:34(ESV) Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
2 Timothy 1:6-7(ESV) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
“The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident.” – Max Lucado
“Faith and fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose.” – Bob Proctor
“Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love.” – Rick Warren
I conclude with: “Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyses, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith also makes serviceable.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick