Fear Part 1

“Fear…it motivates some while it paralyzes others. Your ability to face AND control fear will determine how it affects your life as well as the level of success you achieve…” — Rick Cox

The world in which we live in today certainly provides plenty of reasons for anyone to have fear in their life. In fact, fear is the single most dominating factor in the hearts of most people in the world. Fear by definition is a feeling of agitation and or anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger; a state or condition marked by this feeling such as living in fear; a feeling of disquiet or apprehension from the fear of looking foolish; a reason for dread or uneasiness from the fear of being alone. Fear is that which is used by dictators, governments, leaders, religion, parents, bullies, or anyone who might want to elicit this desired response out of another.

Fear is what many feel when looking at their surrounding environment. Right now, the surrounding environment is full of impending doom due to: lack of opportunity; lack of money; lack of ability; poor health with a lack of insurance; poor economic conditions with the high cost of living; wars, earthquakes, famine, pestilence, etc. Fear is what comes on you when you do not see yourself able to overcome or win. Fear is what often grips the heart when there is a deadline to meet; a goal to achieve or an objective to accomplish when there is no wherewithal from within to make it happen. Everyone has had fear in their lives at one time or another. The key is to learn how to control and overcome fear so that it does not dominate or control your life thereby, holding you back from becoming ALL you were meant to be.

We have all had our bouts with fear. Every so often we are gripped by fear due to threats from people; whether these people have the right to threaten or not. Then there is fear, which comes on us due to having a poor self image. The key to both is developing the ability to control the level to which the emotion or anxiety controls you. I would venture to say anyone would be gripped by fear if their life was threatened or if they were told tomorrow was to be their final day. The question is, what would you do? Would you allow the emotion to make you sick or would you control the emotion and channel the energy to enjoy the time left with those you love? You alone have the ability to control the level to which this emotion controls your response and ultimately your destiny. Overcoming fear in any case is developing the ability to face the fear and its consequences.

Fear may paralyze you if threatened by bodily harm (pain) or death. Unless you are into Sadomasochism you are probably not into pain for the action of most is to avoid pain. As much as pain is feared, death is often feared to a greater degree by all because of the unknown or that is to say what is on the other side? So, it stands to reason one would fear both of these consequences. As long as you are afraid of these they can or could be used against you. Such would be used by a terrorist or one who would kidnap you, a spouse or relative. Fear is what they are using to control the situation. Your fear would not help you control the situation it would only help to strengthen theirs. Controlling your fear could and would help you think clearly; acting with precision thereby, creating a greater possibility of making the situation work for you and against them. This comes from learning to use the energy from the fear by channeling it towards something positive.

Then there is fear of your own abilities. What if I try and fail? What if I can’t? What if others make fun of me? What if I am a loser? What if they don’t love me? This is often the result of a poor self image. In any case, ONE MUST recognize the need to face the consequences; face the fear; in doing so you mitigate the results. It is only when you confront the fear you will finally overcome the fear. If you have a fear of drowning you are usually a poor swimmer or can’t swim at all. Face the fear by learning to swim. Use the fear to motivate you instead of allowing it to paralyze you. Allow the energy to jump start you into reading more, practicing more, doing more and becoming more. Face the consequence of the fear in your heart by recognizing it only has the power you give to it.

The power of fear often grows in us as we grow in our dependence on our senses. For as we grow in our ability “to understand through our senses,” this type of understanding places false limits on us. These false limits tell us we can’t; we are too small; too short; too skinny; too large; not smart enough; not educated enough; not wise enough; not of the right stock; etc. None of which is true for we are only limited by what we believe ourselves to be. Fear will limit what you can be; it will also limit what you will be IF you give in and succumb to it. The key to overcoming fear is to face the fear no matter what it is. When fear is confronted, you will find IT DOES NOT have near the power you were made to believe it had.

To confront fear one needs to be able to muster faith for faith is the opposite of fear. Both are powerful forces and both attract. Fear attracts negative while faith attracts the positive. Fear equals I can’t. Faith equals I can. Fear is allowing something other than YOU to control your life while FAITH provides YOU the ability to control your life and your destiny. Proverbs 10:24 says, “What the wicked man fears will come on him…yet that which a righteous man desires (or has faith to believe) shall be granted.” Job said, “The thing that I greatly feared, it has come upon me.” Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man brings a snare…” It is obvious from these verses that fear is to be avoided. On the other hand when one starts believing they can; when one has faith, then that faith will be rewarded for faith is believing that you already have what you desire; faith helps you obtain what fear wants to keep from you. Joseph Campbell said, “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek,” and so it does.

Remember, God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and sound mind. Fear, which paralyzes is not of God. Fear, which causes anxiety, is not of God. Fear, which holds one back, is not of God. God said, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, at that which is causing you to fear, for I am your God and I will strengthen you, surely I will help you and uphold you with My right hand.” Remember also, God is IN YOU therefore, all you need is available to you. Simply reach in and bring it out.

There is plenty we could be fearful of today, but allowing fear to take a foothold is allowing outside influences to control your life. “Greater is He in you than he that is in this world.” In other words, you have what it takes in you to overcome anything you face.

Best of LUCK as you
Labor Under Correct Knowledge…

Respectfully,

Rick Cox