Doing It Afraid.
“To feel fear doesn’t mean that you’re a coward. Boldness is taking action in the presence of fear – do it afraid”
— Joyce Meyer
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Fear, an emotion common to human
One emotion almost every human experience is fear. We all express our fears differently. For some, it holds them down and keeps them on one spot for a very long time. For others, fear is a propellant and they go in the direction of their fears, doing what they’ve got to do even if it requires them doing it Afraid.
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
–Nelson Mandela
There are times when I’m called to take on a role or a responsibility that I have not handled before, I cringe at first. Some sort of fear hover around me, then I start to check all my inabilities bringing out reasons why I won’t be a good fit.
A voice in my head starts screaming I can’t, I can’t and if I don’t calm down and think well, I would end up declining whatever offer I was getting. I hear people share their fear experience with me too. It’s a pretty similar situation.
Fear is a common experience many of us face but the difference in us is in how we confront our fears and how we still go ahead, doing it afraid.
We all, well many of us want to do great things for ourselves and our community but fear often comes in the way and we back out. Did you know that grand things don’t happen in the comfort zone? Everything great, everything grand happens on the stretch street and not in the comfort zone.
So I ask you, where are you standing on, still in your comfort zone or already on the stretch street?
Confront your fears
“He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
In the last three months and counting, I have had to take on some responsibilities that were tasking, seeming difficult and stretching at the same time. It felt like I was going to break but no, I didn’t. I’m still the same one writing this piece to you😂. I faced my fears head-on, though afraid, I still went ahead to do what I needed to do.
We are meant to confront our fears, facing it head-on.
If every great person you know gave up when faced with a challenge in their lives, do you think you’ll know them now?
What if Benjamin Franklin gave up on electricity, would you have known light today?
How about the Wright brothers? If they backed out of inventing airplanes who would have thought of the possibility of flying?
Why would you want to deprive the world of that great thing to be brought forth through you because of fear?
“Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.”
–Judy Blume
The man in the arena
Brené Brown, one of my favorite writers introduced me to one powerful speech made by Theodore Roosevelt titled Citizenship in the Republic through her book Daring Greatly. One notable passage from that speech is referred to as The Man in The Arena.
In his speech, Theodore emphasized that credit only belongs to those who are in the arena, striving valiantly, falling and rising again, to those who dare greatly, to those who face their fears and still do it afraid. Those are the people who count. Are you the man in the arena?
You have been equipped!
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence”Â
–2 Peter 1:3 ESV
We have been equipped to live our best life. To thrive and not just survive. To face our fears head-on and overcome them. Victory will only belong to you if you try and give life your best shot. The onus lies on you to take action.
I’m rooting for you, always.
With love and everything nice.
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Well said, Fear can deprive us from getting opportunities, Low self esteem, lack of self confidence, infact it silence or kills great potentials that are yet to be unleashed.
When we believe in ourselves, through positive reassurance that we can do it no matter what, self development, trainings and prayers, we can conquer fear!
This is apt! Fear deprives us from so many things. We just have to confront it with the right knowledge and beliefs.
Thank you for sharing, Faith.
Nice write up as usual. I have a question, how do one discern low self esteem and fear? When it’s related to doing a task or something.
Hi Sir D, thank you for reading through.
Self esteem talks about your self worth and how you think about yourself. Low self esteem is often linked to poor self image majorly from experiences had in the past.
As it relates to doing a task, someone with low self esteem doesn’t think of himself as capable, or fit for the said task so, they won’t give it a try.
Fear on the other hand often comes from a place of uncertainty of the outcome of a task. One is not sure if they will succeed at the said task or fail but they might choose to give it a try.
I hope this answer helps.
Nicely Written Grace. Most times the pathway to our greatest fear is also the pathway to our greatest achievement. Once the fear is conquered the greatness is unleashed. We are all in the Arena, we either rise and win or stay down and be crushed. I choose to do it afraid nonetheless.
“Most times, the pathway to our greatest fear is also the pathway to our greatest achievement”
This statement is so true! But yeah, we still go ahead to do it, even if it means us doing it afraid.
Thank you so much for contributing, John.