The Most Successful Way to Overcome Your Fear

"Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed." - Michael Pritchard

In a previous blog I wrote about a “Sticking Point”. When it comes to speaking, F.E.A.R. is the big sticking point for many people. It is an impenetrable barrier that paralyzes and petrifies so many speakers it leaves them speechless. They F.E.A.R. a negative outcome before the event actually happens.

But F.E.A.R. is a perception. It is not real. Beyond the mind, F.E.A.R. has no physical qualities except sweaty palms, shortness of breath, and pounding heart. These physical conditions are caused by mentally induced chemicals. All of F.E.A.R.’s power is derived from the energy of the mind. In most cases, speaking being one of them, that energy tends to be negative.

The speaker is not negative about their topic. The speaker is negative about the speaking event.

There are two kinds of fear. The physical fear and the mental F.E.A.R.

The Fallacy of F.E.A.R.

So, let’s examine F.E.A.R.

Physical Fear
On the TV Show Sherlock, the title character makes this observation about physical fear. "Fear is wisdom in the face of danger." He's right. But he is referring to physical fear - danger. Running into a burning building. Walking down a dark alley. He is not talking about speaking to a group of people. Speaking rarely poses a physical threat to the speaker.

Mental F.E.A.R. is something completely different.

Can you see, smell, taste, hear or touch F.E.A.R.? No. It is completely mental.

F.E.A.R. is imagined. In some cases, F.E.A.R. is quite vividly imagined. Vividly imagined things can be attributed to the unconscious mind. A place behind your conscious mind, the unconscious mind sees all and knows all, but cannot tell the difference between the vividly imagined and the real. This is where your nightmares live. Because F.E.A.R. has no truth, we can confront it and classify it by its “true” nature. I have been purposefully writing “fear” as F.E.A.R. because I want to implant an acronym in you for understanding fear.

F.E.A.R. is a False Expectation Appearing Real.

F.E.A.R. is a wholly imagined experience. The only thing real about F.E.A.R. is the net effect it has on the thinker. So how can you deal with F.E.A.R.?

The Bubble

The Universe abhors a vacuum. The very minute the veil of a vacuum is pierced the Universe will fill that vacuum with energy. Now, imagine each new opportunity to speak is a bubble of emptiness. A vacuum. When you first encounter the bubble, it has no character. It is empty of all energy. Once you pierce the bubble’s veil, that vacuous speaking opportunity is now filled with the kind of energy you release. If your first inclination is to think of the speaking opportunity as a negative experience then the bubble will be negative. You have given it the “False Expectation Appearing Real” energy it needs to exist. If you want to change the nature of the bubble from negative to positive you’ll have to summon up an amount of positive energy equal to the negative energy you released. And that will just get you back to “zero”.

My advice, “Be positive.” See each speaking opportunity as the wonderful, self-esteem building, career-altering, career-changing opportunity it truly is. Prepare. Know your stuff. Practice. Get coaching. Learn the craft.

Once you do, you’ll encounter a new kind of F.E.A.R. One where you Feel Eager And Ready to enjoy the most from each and every speaking opportunity.

I’m here to serve you, my reader, and your input is most appreciated. Don't be 'afraid" to share your thoughts on FEAR in the comment section below.

 Bringing Positivity to Everything,
The Brain Tamer