Fear or Confidence, it is Your Choice

I was six years old hanging on to the edge of the swimming pool watching the fun that everyone was having in the water except for me. Lacking Confidence and paralyzed with fear of what would happen if I let go of the edge my internal struggle was immense. I was longing for the freedom and fun that would come from letting go but tortured by the images in my mind of drowning.

Have you been there before, aching to breakthrough, but hesitant to let go, take the next step, and cross the gap of where you are to where you want to be? There is no Peace of Mind is this place of fear, only insecurity, excuses, energy loss, and wondering, “What is wrong with me”. Procrastination is KING!

Sensing what was happening, my dad asked me to come see him. I got out of the pool and walked over to him. Suddenly, he grabbed me and threw me into the water. When I finally broke the surface, sputtering, choking, still alive, and mad I could hear my mom yelling, “You are going to kill him!”

Dad just encouraged me by showing me how to use my arms, and after what seemed like an eternity and swallowing 100 gallons of water, I managed to get to the edge. Before I knew it dad had pulled me up and threw me back into the water!

This process happened three times but when my head broke the surface the third time, my fear had left and I realized that I COULD SWIM! I turned around and paddled over to my friends. I felt such joy, peace, and confidence and the untrue debilitating images of drowning were gone. Dad smiled and joined me in the water.

Og Mandino in Scroll number nine says, “Action reduces the lion of terror into an ant of equanimity” (peace of mind). When you act, the real you shows up and quiets the unhealthy habits of thinking that can drive your life into fear, insecurity, and procrastination.

Would you like “a dad” to help you get started?

Action Steps Today:

• Identify one or two areas of fear in your life

• When you feel fear or procrastination immediately, take action.