Ponderings (October 2006) - “FEAR”

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary …

Fear is “be afraid of; expect with alarm; to be afraid or apprehensive”

Sharing my thoughts …

October brings to mind the word fear.  After all, isn’t Halloween a time for being frightened?  Have you noticed that there is a part of us that is drawn to fear?  We will watch scary movies, ride death defying rides and enjoy Halloween haunted houses.  Fear gets our adrenalin pumping and can protect us from harmful situations; such as walking alone in a dark alley at night.  But, we can overuse fear. We can experience fear in our daily lives and perceive dangers where little or none exist.  Fear can debilitate us and keep us stuck.  It can prevent us from growing, living our lives to the fullest, and reaching our potential.  So enjoy your Halloween “fear” and scary movies; but, don’t allow fear to run your life. 

Questions to ponder …

  1. When has fear protected you?
  2. How do you respond to fearful situations?
  3. What can you do to help you face your fears?
  4. Where in your physical body do you feel fear?
  5. How do you respond to others expressing fear?
  6. What do you do when you are experiencing fear?
  7. What do you fear most?  What impact does this have on you?
  8. When has fear kept you from making a needed change in your life?
  9. What is the worst that can happen if you face your fear?  What is the best?
  10. What is the worst that can happen if you allow fear to rule?  What is the best?

Related quotes …

Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive - the risk to be alive and express what we really are.  [Don Miguel Ruiz]

Nothing in life is to be feared.  It is only to be understood.  [Marie Curie]

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.  [Eleanor Roosevelt]

Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.  [Babe Ruth]

All of us are born with a set of instinctive fears - of falling, of the dark, of lobsters, of falling on lobsters in the dark, of speaking before a Rotary Club, and of the words "Some Assembly Required”. [Dave Barry]