How Can You Stop Living in Fear and Start Living in Faith?

This is an addition to my last blog Are you Allowing Irrational Fear to Control You? If you haven’t read it yet, click here.

Fear is a double-edged sword, for sure. When interpreted correctly, fear can save your life. But sometimes, our brains confuse the possibility of an adverse outcome as life-saving fear, which can prevent you from living your life and fulfilling your purpose.

Are you stuck in a job you hate? Do you dream of finding a new job, or changing fields, or starting your own business?

Are you stuck in a bad relationship but just can’t seem to make yourself leave? Do you dream of being happy and free?

Ask yourself why you are stuck.

Do your answers look something like this:

“I’m too old to start over.”

“What if I fail and lose everything?”

“Nobody would hire me at this age.”

“Where would I get the money to start a new business?”

“I’m miserable here, but I have job security.”

“What would the neighbors think?”

“This would be my second or third divorce, that’s embarrassing.”

“I’m staying for the kids.”

“I don’t have anywhere to go if I leave him/her.”

"I'll just settle and live like roommates."

If you answered yes, you are probably allowing fear to dictate your life. Fear is tricking you into believing you have to stay miserable in order to survive. What sense does that make?

I am NOT telling you to quit your job today and it will all be ok. I am NOT telling you to leave your spouse because you had a really bad argument last night. I am also NOT saying your transformation will be easy.

I AM saying if you are serious about wanting a change, it is absolutely possible and within your reach. You already have the strength, the courage, and the know-how. All you need is to take that first step.

Just like the kid learning to ride a bike, prepare yourself as much as possible to withstand a tumble off the bike. There may be some bumps and bruises, but don’t allow the possibility of bumps and bruises to cause you to walk while everyone else passes you on their bikes.

Do your own research. Ask others with experience for advice. Find a support group. Ask for help. Pray. Listen to what your heart is telling you. Think of all the wonderful possibilities WHEN you succeed, and not all the negatives IF you don’t.

You can’t know or predict how things will turn out, and that is ok. All you need is Faith.

You may not succeed on your first bike ride without training wheels. You could run head-first into a tree. Of course, you are wearing your helmet, so the only injury is to your ego. But that tree is planted in the yard of a banker or an advocate for battered spouses.

All because you trusted in yourself and overcame the fear, you can now afford to start your own business, or you now have a safe place for you and your children to stay.

Getting to where you want to go may not be an easy route, but it can’t be any worse than the path you took to get to where you are.

I challenge you to take that first step toward reaching your goal. It could be as simple as conducting an internet search on how to start a business or as difficult as asking a friend for a place to stay until you get back on your feet, but it is a step in the right direction.

What will be your motivation? What does motivation look like to you?