FEAR

 

3 types of FEAR

Wikipedia describes FEAR as, "a feeling induced by perceived danger or threat that occurs in certain types of organisms, which causes a change in metabolic and organ functions and ultimately a change in behavior, such as fleeing, hiding, or freezing from perceived traumatic events. Fear in human beings may occur in response to a specific stimulus occurring in the present, or in anticipation or expectation of a future threat perceived as a risk to body or life.". Also, the English dictionary suggest FEAR to be "an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.". All the above definitions and descriptions brings out the fact that fear is MAN made. It is no doubt that FEAR  limits our potential,strength,faith,hopes and dreams. Many are poor and unsuccessful today because they were not able to overcome their FEARS, that they personally created. You created your fears and you can destroy it too. Success is created through overcoming your fears, through failing down and getting back up, that is what makes a champion. I guess is only reasonable to think that most of us don't want our dreams and aspirations "as bad as we want to breath".

The fear of failure.                      

 The fear of failure, also know as Atychiphobia occurs when we allow fear to limit us in doing the very things that can lead us to attaining our goals and dreams. Many of us are victims of this type of fear. According to scholars,  Atychiphobia often leads to a constricted lifestyle, and is particularly devastating for its effects on a person's willingness to attempt certain activities. As with all kinds of FEARS, the fear of failure is allowed by us to inhibit our ability to move forward and higher, which clearly shows that we have the ultimate ability and power to either allow or disallow the fear of failure to break us or make us.

The fear of success.           

The questions running through our minds at this moment are, do people actually fear success?, why should a person fear his success? and why will someone not fear to fail but to succeed?. In an article published in mindtools.com, it stated that "Psychologist Matina Horner first diagnosed the fear of success in the early 1970s. Her findings, especially as they related to fear of success in women at that time, were incredibly controversial.Since then, however, most scientists and psychologists agree that fear of success exists for both men and women.Fear of success is similar to fear of failure .They have many of the same symptoms, and both fears hold you back from achieving your dreams and goals." The same article also stated clearly that, "Fear of success is actually quite common, and it can cause us to lose out on a lot of opportunities in life. When we're too afraid to take risks and move forward on our goals either consciously or unconsciously we get stuck in one place, neither moving forward nor backward." Why do people fear success?.Most people are afraid of taking risk that will ultimately lead to their growth in their goals and businesses. Most often than not we fear the outcome of our efforts, we wonder, what if we succeed and we cant handle the pressure that comes with it? The only thing holding you back from success is yourself.

Fear of change.                                                                                                                          The fear of change or changing things is called Metathesiophobia. It is often linked with Tropophobia which is the fear of moving. The origin of the word Metathesiophobia comes from Greek 'meta' meaning change and Phobos meaning fear. Fear of change can stop people from taking an action or a  step further. While some scholars suggest that the fear of change is evolutionary(passed  down from generations), I strongly believe Fear of change is self imposed and can be destroyed by only you and no one else. Understanding the reasons behind the fear of change can help you better understand how to overcome and deal with it. According to change management coach.com, Anxiety is the most dominate cause of the fear of change. Anxiety breeds from self doubt, uncertainty of the outcome and rumors of change. Yes! we all agree to the fact that change is hard, more especially when its a huge change, be it change in your office,business,operations,family, partners and even moving from your old house into a new one. We wounder how we are going to survive in the new area. It is only reasonable to accept it that change is an everyday thing and an important part of every human existence, hence the quicker we get involved in change and taking those steps necessary towards a brighter future, the better.Benjamin Franklin once said “When you are finished changing, you are finished”.

 Ultimately, it's fear. It's almost always fear. Fear is the number one reason why people stay in their safety zones. It's why people don't start new businesses.

  Marianne Williamson “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.”