How To Overcome Fear
By Amy Englemark
I wonder how many of you are believing lies about yourself and your future?
I am not immune to fear! I can honestly say I’ve believed many lies. Some of them have held me back for too long!
Today I’m going to tell you a story about myself and fear. Then you can decide if you want to stay stuck and paralyzed like I was or if you would rather create a new story for yourself.
When I was 22 I was standing behind the cash register at a farm where I worked. An aquaintance/friend of mine planted a seed in my heart that day. She told me that one day I was going to write a book.
What!!? She completely shocked me as her statement was so out of the blue and so ‘out there.’ I guess the seed has really been growing lately…
In the Fall of 2013 I was journalling in the wee, dark hours of the morning. I couldn’t quiet the voice inside, telling me to “Write, Write, Write…” So I started my blog.
That didn’t seem to be enough.
I decided (as the sense to write ‘more’ wasn’t going away) to write a book. I started writing from my home in Canada and finished my book on the shores of Kauai, Hawaii.
Can you imagine?! Play with me here…I rode my bike down to the beach in the early mornings when the sun was just popping over the horizon. Purple trailing flowers surrounded me and palm trees hung over my head. What a place to write!!
I finished the book in June of 2014 and haven’t edited it or gotten it published since. This is where I give my story a big ‘thumbs down.’
For over a year I have listened to myself rehearse (until I believed it to be true) why I should not get the book published. It makes me really angry and very disappointed in myself knowing that I have let fear hold me back for so long!!
“The cost of designing, editing and publishing will be too much.”
“It will take too much time and effort.”
“Maybe the book won’t even help anyone. Maybe no one will read the book and be impacted at all!”
Thankfully today is a new day. It’s a new day for you and for me! Each day is. Maybe you have been paralyzed by fear and that fear has held you back in your relationships, business or personal growth.
You can create a new story for yourself starting RIGHT NOW!
What if you were destined for success, not failure?! Too much of our time is spent on thinking of the worst case scenario if we pursue that which we fear. Now is the time to focus on all the doors that will open, all the support and courage available to you if you would just step out.
Step out of your comfort zone (while you are still afraid). Take a small step towards whatever it is that you fear.
You’ll find that as you do, your courage and confidence grows. Doors open. Your fears are just a story you’ve been telling yourself. They’re not real.
My prayer is that you put one foot in front of the other (as I am doing and have done) and lean into your fear instead of allowing it to paralyze you.
With much love and courage,
Amy
