Creative Life: No Fear Allowed

"No Fear Allowed"

I am the poster child for hiding behind fear. Whenever I get an amazing idea that I feel could really shake things up, I get shaken up because I'm afraid. Of what? Good question. Nothing, really. Absolutely nothing.  I'm a firm believer in confronting your issues, looking them in the face and "dealing" with them. Once my best friend asked me what it meant to "deal" with issues. Sometimes it's as simple as realizing there is an issue. A lot of us are fearful, not of our amazing ideas or talent, but of the rejection which comes when others don't recognize and respect those ideas, that talent. Rejection stings so much because we hang our hopes on acceptance. Whether it's societal acceptance, acceptance by critics, or acceptance from those close to us, we yearn to be appreciated! In the end, it doesn't matter. At some point, people will forget again, the phone will stop ringing, the "friend requests" will slow to a crawl, the hugs and kisses will become polite, yet thin-lipped smiles.

Think about it: Five years ago, Nicole Richie's name was on the tip of everyone's tongue, whether for good or bad. Today, however, if someone speaks about her, it's probably in reference to something from her former life. Everything that trends goes out of style eventually.

Wait, before you go into depression, realize what I'm saying. I've learned that I can't please everyone, but as long as I've done something that I can smile about, that's all that matters.

And if you're only doing this life, love, artistry, religion, friendship thing for yourself, what exactly is there to fear? Yourself? Unless you have multiple personalities which conspire for your failure, there is nothing to fear.

With fear removed we really can do anything. Look around you, everything you see is a product of someone's dreams, tenacity and assiduousness. You deserve to let your light shine as much as Bill Gates,  Oprah, Tamara Mellon, Jason Reitman, and anyone else who has created or partaken in something amazing. Today, tell fear that it's not allowed in your life, and go for whatever it is that you want most!

From Marianne Williamson's "A Return to Love":

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

QUESTION: What marks the last time you conquered fear? How did you do it and what were the results?

Leave your answer in the comments section below!