I was reading a book written by Beth Moore titled Get Out of That Pit.
As I read on page 7, she writes, “The law of physics tell you that if you try to go one place without leaving another, you’re in for a pretty severe stretch. And you can only do the splits so long,” I paused for a moment. I do this often when something resonates with me. It’s probably the reason it takes me 24 months to finish reading a book that I could read in days!
I stopped for a minute to think about my goals. What I have been gripping so tightly that my hand is not able to grab on to something new?
Fear came to mind. Fear is such a jerk. I know we’ve been created to feel it because it serves as a protection. Fear releases adrenaline throughout our body which makes our legs move fast when a strong, massive tiger is about to attack! Fear is very useful. Until it’s not.
The non useful fear is what I am talking about here. Fear of humiliation, fear of failure, fear of succeeding and not being able to maintain success, fear of letting people down, fear, fear, fear, fear.
It feels so real, like it’s just the truth.
I’ve acknowledged that yes, it is true I feel fear. I’ve also acknowledged that I’m choosing to do things afraid because I want to be an example of what’s possible. I want to be a person that doesn’t allow fear to chain me to indecision which only leads to inaction. I want to be a person that takes bold action to reach my goals. I want to be a person that enjoys life and isn’t afraid of it.
I want to be a person that exemplifies courage.
Here’s what I recently learned about courage. It’s a choice. Yep, that’s right. Fear is not going away. We will always feel some level of fear when we try new things. But courage is there as a life preserver, in a sense. It is right there in arms reach for us to grab onto and use it to take us safely to shore. We don’t have to float in a sea of fear. Courage is available to be a vessel of movement – of moving forward despite feeling afraid.
I’m miserable when I know fear is holding me back because of what I’m trying to avoid like public humiliation, failing, succeeding and not maintaining, letting people down, etc. Feeling all those things would make me miserable too.
And I figure, if I’m going to feel miserable, I may as well be miserable doing the things I want to do – things I know will push me to another level in life and closer to my goals.
What is it that you need to let go of to grab on to?
Let go of: Grab on to:
Fear > > Courage
Self-hate > > Self-love
Unforgiveness > > Forgiving heart
Anger > > Freedom from agitation
Keep filling in the list and focus on one at a time. Do your best to visualize the action of letting go and grabbing on.
If we aren’t an active participant in our life, someone or something is going to run it for us. And that would be something to fear!
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. – Hebrews 10:23