How To Remove Fear, Doubt, and Worry
Fear can be a powerful deterrent. Doubting can stop us dead in our tracks. Worry fills us with anxiety. Circling endlessly in one place, unable to move forward, fear, doubt, and worry cripple us. Courage, on the other hand, can be a mighty motivator. Trusting that the future is going to bring us where we need to be builds confidence. Remaining calm in uncertain situations allows us to assert our focus. Through practice, persistence, and determination negative feelings of fear, doubt, and worry can be transformed into courage, trust, and calmness.
The first time that I rode a bike without training wheels, I was afraid that I would fall over and hurt myself terribly. I doubted that the skinny little tires could elevate me off of the ground. I worried that I wouldn’t know how to put the brakes on in order to stop. I feared the worst, imagining a broken arm or leg after an illusory fall. How could the bike stay upright if I was turning the handle bars to the left or right? I didn’t understand how I could keep my balance while also quickly pedaling my legs in a jerky, circular motion.
Had I not found the courage, faith, or reassurance in bike riding, I would have spent many of my childhood days sadly sitting on the side of the road while my friends rode their bikes in circles around me. No one outside of myself could determine whether or not I would ever ride a bike. Even if I didn’t have my own bike, there were other neighborhood bikes to practice on. I wasn’t without the opportunity. Nothing but my own decisions were stopping me from being brave and trusting that I could ride a bike. My brother’s taunting was no excuse for me to not get on a bike. No one or no thing could make me ride that bike outside of my own intentions. Fear, doubt and worry were holding me back. Courage, faith, and reassurance propelled me forward. This choice was and is something entirely in my control. It is really the only thing that is ever in my control. This decision that I make determines the results of my experiences. Positive choices lead to incredible events. Choosing fear, doubt, or worry creates unfavorable situations.
The practice of living my life involves not allowing fear, doubt, or worry to control my life decisions. Right now, you are facing a moment that requires that you make a decision. In ten minutes, there will be another opportunity to make the right choice. Like riding a bike, it takes practice to get to calm, courageous, trusting places. It is a process to remind myself moment by moment that it is up to me to make positive choices. I make a habit of paying attention to my self. Not “myself” in a conceited way, but “my self” as in my reflection, the part of me that impacts other people’s lives. The more I practice positive living, the easier it gets. It never plateaus. Life is always a work in progress. Enlightenment to me is this practice of knowing that every day gets better as the effect of making better decisions. There really is no destination. It really is all about the journey. These moments when we make choices and decisions.