Saturday, August 20, 2016

Stepping Away From Our Fears

Fears.  What do they do?  They mock, they tease, but most of all they hinder.  They hinder from moving, the heart from loving, the timid from trying, the ashamed from expecting...

What are your fears?  What are you holding on to as truths that may be nothing more than smoke screens to a better reality and desired future?  I've heard that an acronym for fear is

F - False
E - Evidence
A - Appearing
R - Real

I would like to say that it's easy to shake off fear like a coat or a worn blanket, but that's not always the case.  Yet, we can always overcome fear by just trying.  Make small, concerted efforts to try the very thing you fear.  For example, would you like to sing before crowds but whenever you try you can't find your voice?  Begin by singing out loud while you're walking around outside.  Not boisterously mind you, but loud enough to be heard by people you pass by.  Once you're comfortable with that, find a place where you can sing karaoke.  Then you'll take the next step from there, and the next, until you're finally singing before crowds.

Every fear can be conquered this way.  If taking a huge, tremendous action to face the fear doesn't work for you, then you can find a small step to take towards conquering that fear.  For the more we conquer our fears the more dynamic we will become.

And isn't that what we're seeking?  To become the dynamic individuals we believe ourselves to be?


Have I not command you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discourage, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9 NIV)


For another post on fear read Let Go Of Your Fears.

Monday, March 21, 2016

It Takes Time, Part 2

I wrote in a post back in 2009 that change takes time.  Period.  However, when I wrote it my expectation was that "time" would be a short period of 1 to 3 years and definitely no more than 5 years.  The irony is that one of the examples that I mentioned--the growth of a tree--can take a minimum of 10-15 years for fast growing trees and 20-30 for slow growing ones.  (These years refer to a red maple according to Better Homes and Gardens).

Where am I going with this?  Right now I'm reminded of Abraham in the Bible.  God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.  Yet, Abraham did not have a child with his wife Sarah until 25 years after that promise.  That was 25 years of waiting for a dream to become a reality.

What goal or dream or you waiting on that hasn't come to fruition?  Don't be hard on yourself because it's been five or more years and your expected change hasn't happened.  So I'll repeat what I said 7 years ago back in 2009.  Be patient with yourself during your time of change.  Every step forward, no matter how long it takes to make that one step, is a step closer to where you want to be.


And let us not be weary in welldoing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9 KJV)