Facing Fears

Fears are paralyzing.

They can prevent us from living a normal life.

As a young adult, I was bold and outgoing.  

I had fears, but I took life by the horns and met it head on.

In more recent years, my fears and anxiety have gotten the better of me.

I have been unable to do many things in life.

Lately, I'm forcing myself to face those fears.

I went to the gym and didn't care that I don't "fit in".

I spoke to the trainer and did weights among all those "hard-bodies".

I met a dear friend from my past and didn't obsess that I didn't look "perfect".

And you know what - she didn't care!!!

I drove 130 miles to someplace I had never gone before, without my husband, to spend the weekend with other "moms" that I don't necessarily fit in with and I did it during a snowstorm (which I hate to drive in).  We stayed in a hotel, we found our way around town, and I endured the entire time without one anxiety attack!

I'm feeling pretty good about these little victories.

I'm not "cured" but I'm walking in faith.

"Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable." Harry Emerson Fosdick

"Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends." Shirley Maclaine
"Empty fears we all have, most worryings are needless, but still we fail to understand and go on fretting heedless." John McLeod, from a On Crossing Non-Existent Bridges
"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." Yoda
"You are limited only by your fears." Fran Watson, from Risk