Belief, Fear and Success

Do you ever have one of those mornings when you wake up scared? Scared that you don’t know how you’re going to do something that needs to be done? I think we all share this from time to time. That feeling of uncertainty, that fear of the unknown, that discomfort with stepping outside of the box we’ve been living in for so long.

We say we want change and that we want to play a bigger game. Well, along with that comes unknown territory, and along with that comes fear and trepidation. It’s our body’s survival mechanism kicking in to protect us saying, “Hey, we’ve never done this before…. You think this is a really good idea?” It’s our body’s way of trying to protect us.

That survival mechanism was put there long ago for a really good reason. However survival in today’s world is much different than it was for our ancestors. We’re not out hunting buffalo or playing cowboys and Indians for real. Our conquests now are of a different nature, but the survival mechanism remains the same. Our body is still protecting us from the unknown.  It becomes our job to reassure that voice inside and step forward, knowing that with belief, the impossible is possible.

Fear plus belief equals success. Belief in ourselves, belief that we’re connected to something so much more powerful then what we can see. Belief that anything is possible. Belief that we deserve the best that life has to offer. Belief that there is enough for everyone. Belief that it’s all part of a plan and everything is perfect in this very moment, even if we’re scared.

I was having lunch with my friend Gay Hendricks and shared that sometimes it’s scary launching a new company and figuring out how it will all work. He laughed and told me that if I’m not scared, I’m not playing big enough! What a great way to see life! And you know what? He’s right!

Think about the greatest things you’ve ever accomplished in your life. Think about the things that have brought you the greatest satisfaction and joy in your life. Chances are these very things once caused fear in your life too.

The only difference between then and now is that you figured out how to manifest them into your life and in doing so, the fear was replaced with satisfaction. Pretty cool how that works.

In summary, think big, play a big game and believe that you’ll succeed. Success is nothing more than not giving up until you reach your goal. The only way you’ll fail is if you give up before you achieve the goal. As Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.”

So step forward today with belief. Look at your goal, reaffirm the belief, feel the fear, and do it anyway. We’re not fighting for our physical lives here, just for a goal that may be bigger than we planned.

Let’s embrace the fear and know that if we’re feeling it, we’re playing a game that’s worth it. Remember that we will succeed if we keep going, so let’s take another step.

And when we reach that goal, let’s remember that the fear we felt along the way, combined with our belief was what got us there.  That same fear and belief is what will propel us to where we’re going next.

Scared? Good! We’re playing a big game and it’s worth it. Just add belief and together, we’ll soon be on the top of that mountain celebrating the success of life.