The Club PUBlication 08/05/2024

Confront your fears and learn from them

OUTSWIMMING THE SHARKS
HARVEY MACKAY

A city mouse went on a visit to his cousin in the countryside. The cousin welcomed him with a modest meal of beans. The city mouse turned up his nose and said, "I cannot understand how you can live with such poor food. Come to the city, and I'll show you what a real feast is like."

The two mice traveled to the city. In the dining room, they found the remains of a meal left by humans who lived in the house, and soon the two mice were enjoying jellies, cakes and puddings. Suddenly, they heard a noise. The country mouse said, "What is that?"

"It's just the dog who lives here," his cousin replied.

Just then, the door flew open and in charged a huge snarling dog. The two mice ran off.

"Goodbye, cousin," said the country mouse. "You're going so soon?" said his cousin. "Yes," he replied. "Less at peace is better than more in fear."

Fear is a fascinating adversary.

It is not just an emotion; it is a force that can dictate our actions and affect our lives profoundly.

But fear has only as much power as we allow it to have.

When we are faced with fear, we have a choice. We can let it paralyze us, or we can confront it and learn from it.

Fear often prevents people from taking risks. By stepping out of your comfort zone, you open yourself to experiences that can lead to success.

Managing your fears requires you to regulate your emotions, which enhances your emotional intelligence.

When you do that, it can improve your relationships and decision making.

Identifying your fears helps you understand your limitations and the boundaries you need to push. It reveals your values and priorities by highlighting what you are afraid to lose or fail at.

By anticipating what you're afraid of, you can then take steps to mitigate risks.

I'll be the first to admit I have some fears that follow me. On the silly side, I'm afraid of embarrassing myself on the golf course. I have never let that stop me from playing, and somehow, I have survived every double bogey that becomes fodder for a lot of ribbing from my buddies.

More seriously, I fear threats to my company — another pandemic, supply shortage, finding enough qualified staff.

However, we keep the doors open despite it all.

We all have fears; it's how we deal with them that matters.

Use fear as a signal you are about to do something brave and worthwhile. Every encounter with fear is an opportunity for growth.
Whether you succeed or fail, there is a lesson to be learned in your bravery.

Every time you face fear you build resilience, which is the ability to bounce back from setbacks. Confronting and overcoming fears leads to personal growth and a stronger sense of self-efficacy.

"Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it. ... That is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear," advised Dale Carnegie, the motivational author.

Being courageous isn't about the absence of fear; it is about moving forward despite feeling afraid. It is about using fear as a catalyst for growth, not a barrier to success.

Mackay's Moral: When you make friends with fear, it can't rule your world.

Harvey Mackay is a Minneapolis businessman. Contact him at 612-378- 6202 or email [email protected].