The Fear Factor

Good morning,

Happy Friday! We’re finally getting a little real sunshine, too. Reflecting on last week’s topic, if we don’t want to give up on our goals, how come we frequently do?

Often the factor is fear.

Fear sometimes helps – prompting us to drive more cautiously or hold the stairway handrail – but most of the time fear just gets in the way of living up to our potential.

Author Timothy Ferriss points out, “What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do. That phone call, that conversation, whatever the action might be – it is fear of unknown outcomes that prevents us from doing what we need to do.”

The most nagging “unknown outcome” we’re afraid of is failure, by whatever standards we define for ourselves. Most of us are geniuses at conjuring up “what if” scenarios leading to our definition of failure. “What if I get rejected,” “what if it doesn’t work out,” etc.

Ferriss says, “Define the worst case, accept it, and then do [what you need to do].” Usually the worst case scenario isn’t that bad, furthermore it’s not the most likely outcome.

A word of warning - beware of discouraging words from people who think they have your best interests at heart. Loved ones who don’t want to see us hurt sometimes try to temper our dreams with (their version of) “reality.” Instead, show them that you’re not afraid of failure because you’re tough enough to try again.

The topic of fear also came up recently when I had the pleasure of hearing Bob Fish, CEO of Biggby Coffee (yummy), speak to the Livonia Chamber of Commerce about his fast growing coffee business. Fish said, “People limit their own personal or professional growth because they let fear get in the way.” And he reminded us about the importance of courage, which he defined as “doing something you're afraid of, anyway.”

While it’s safe to say, if we don't try we won't fail, we surely won’t succeed either.

I wish you courage – and a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” Confucius

P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
http://www.metromichigan.com/