fear – Personal Growth Cafe

October 13, 2019March 27, 2018

I let go of my fears for the future.

I look forward to my future with hope and confidence.

If the future brings joy, I welcome it.

If it brings challenges, I know that I have the strength and fortitude to conquer them.

As a result, I am free from fear.

If I am at the bottom of a curving stairway, I do not hesitate to take that first step just because I cannot see the top!

When I get in my car to go someplace, I do not fear what I may encounter on my journey!

In the same way, I move forward with my life and take action to reach my goals even though I cannot see my entire journey ahead of time.

I avoid fretting over what is to come.

Even now, with an intense political climate and a recession in full bloom, I can avoid worry.

Instead, I seek solutions and focus on what I CAN DO to experience the life I desire.

One thing I can do is to live in the moment.

When I am focused on this moment, there is no past or future.

There is only now!

I practice enjoying life moment by moment and relish the beauty that is all around me, just waiting for me to discover it!

My action plans to reach my goals are flexible.

I know that challenges are a natural part of life and I am free to change my path from time to time.

With this strategy, I can always be moving forward, even if I take a short detour.

Today, I choose to be carefree, put any worries in the past, and discover the beauty of this day.

What are your worries for the future?

What can you do today to help you focus on taking positive action?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

October 4, 2019March 27, 2018

How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking

If you find yourself afraid of an upcoming speech, you’re not alone.

The fear of public speaking is one of the top fears out there, but you can still do something about it.

You hear over and over again that practice makes perfect, and this also applies to public speaking.

Any sort of public speaking – even when you speak out in your group of friends – can ease you into the public speaking role.

Here are some actions you can take to reduce your fear of public speaking:

1. Be prepared. In most public speaking situations you can use notes.

Make sure you organize your notes and break them down into an organized list where you highlight two or three key talking points.

If you can’t use notes, simply make it a point to practice your speech until you feel comfortable saying it in front of others.

You might still have some fear, but being well prepared can definitely combat this feeling.

2. Don’t expect perfection. It’s important not to expect that your speech will be perfect.

In fact, chances are your audience doesn’t expect perfection either.

They understand that everyone makes mistakes and they, themselves, may be afraid of public speaking!

You might skip over a part of your talk or stutter a little, and these are all natural human mistakes.

3. Speak in small groups. If you’re uncomfortable speaking in front of a large group, then start small.

Practice on small groups and ask for feedback afterwards.

You can have a confidential feedback form, or you can just ask participants what they thought of your speech.

4. Have a backup plan. It’s always advisable to have a back up plan in life situations and public speaking is not an exception.

Think about what you might want to say if you get stuck.

If your mind goes blank, take a deep breath and start your backup plan.

Chances are you’ll find yourself back on track before you know it.

5. Relax. It’s important to get yourself into the right mindset before you have to speak.

Consider starting a ritual that you find relaxing in order to keep your mind off of your fears.

You could meditate or do a crossword puzzle, whatever it is, just choose an activity that helps you relax.

The Audience

The audience is the whole reason that you’re afraid to make your speech, but it helps to know that they’re on your side.

Keep a positive attitude because chances are good that the audience wants you to succeed in your speech.

In the end, it’s important to remember that even if you do mess up, it’s not the end of the world.

As long as you’ve prepared yourself well enough and have a back up plan in place, you’ll be able to pick yourself back up if you trip up anywhere in your speech.

After your presentation, it’s important to take notes and critique yourself on how it went.

Write down your observations on what you did well in addition to areas of improvement.

As you continue to practice your public speaking skills, you’ll get better and more comfortable in time. Just keep at it!

How are you learning from the experiences you’ve encountered?

How can this make you more confident in your abilities?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

June 8, 2019March 23, 2018

Becoming Your Own Number 1 Fan

If you’re looking to lead a happier life, believing in yourself is an absolute necessity.

If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to believe in you?

You may have gone through some rough times in your life making it difficult to be the happy person you want to be.

Maybe you even suffer from a lack of self-confidence because of past conflicts and pains.

No matter what you’ve been through, you can choose to overcome these obstacles.

It’s time to be your own Number 1 fan and there’s no better time to start than right now!

1. Gain more confidence in yourself by facing your fears.

Fear of failure may have caused you to ignore your dreams, desires or goals.

Don’t let fear stop you from getting what you want and achieving your goals.

If Thomas Edison had been afraid of failure, we wouldn’t have the luxury of indoor lighting today.

He never gave up trying to find the right way to make a light bulb and he experienced over 10,000 ways of how not to make a light bulb.

Just because you don’t reach your goals or dreams the first time, don’t give up. Keep trying until you succeed.

Fear of being alone may stop you from going away to school or moving to a new city where you can pursue your dreams.

Realize that you will make new friends and that you’re current friends will always be there.

Now with the Internet, staying in touch with your friends and family is easier and more convenient than ever.

Once you begin facing your fears, you’ll discover that what you feared may not be such a big deal after all.

But, you’ll never know until you start.

2. Self-talk can also determine whether you believe in yourself or not.

Do you often say negative things like, “I’m an idiot,” or “That was a dumb thing to do,” or “I’m ugly?”

How you perceive yourself comes out in what you say.

However, what you say to yourself can also change how you see yourself.

Start speaking positively to yourself, about yourself.

When you’re getting ready for the day, while looking in the mirror, point out positive characteristics about yourself and say them out loud.

Phrases such as:

“I am an attractive person.”

“I am a good parent.”

“I am a hard worker.”

“I love myself.”

“I like how I look in these clothes.”

“I am brilliant.”

Even if you don’t believe it, say it! You’ll soon realize these things really are true.

You can also post positive quotes or scriptures where you would see them several times a day to keep your spirits high.

3. Insecurity can be a source of disbelief.

Learning to be more secure in certain areas of your life will help you believe in yourself more, plus others will begin to believe in you as well.

There may be certain areas in your life that you feel you need to work on, so work on them!

Are you bad at financial management?

Take a class to help you learn how to budget so you can be in control of your money, instead of your money controlling you.

Are you a slow reader?

Take a speed-reading class or get a tutor to help you build speed.

Do you find it challenging to speak in public?

Take a public speaking course or become an intern for an organization where you must speak in public.

Is your weight stopping you from believing yourself?

First of all, remember that today’s society has a skewed view of beauty.

Don’t allow the media to determine your worth!

However, if your weight is at an unhealthy level, learn how to eat healthy and get regular exercise to take some weight off.

No matter what’s stopping you from believing in yourself, there’s a way to overcome it.

You’ll first need to figure out what’s causing your self-doubt.

Is it fear, insecurity, mental attitudes, or something else?

Only then can you face the obstacle and overcome it.

When was the last time you appreciated yourself?

What skills do you need to develop to become better than what you are now?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 24, 2019March 12, 2018

What Is Anxiety?

Do you feel anxious before a dental visit or starting something new?

Have you gotten the jitters before speaking in front of a large group or sweaty palms when thinking about the future?

These are common reactions when faced with something that’s scary or unfamiliar and it doesn’t necessarily mean that anything is wrong.

However, some people suffer from a more severe form of anxiety that causes more serious physical symptoms.

To better understand if your anxious feelings could be a sign of an anxiety or panic disorder, let’s take a look at some of the symptoms:

If you feel your heart is racing and you can’t breathe correctly, this can be a symptom of anxiety that is severe enough for you to get professional help.

Some people have uncontrollable fears of things like crowded places, driving, or germs that cause complete avoidance of places or situations.

The consistent inability to concentrate can be a symptom of anxiety.

This must be consistent behavior, and not just on those occasions when you lack sleep or are hungry, for instance.

Nervous behaviors, such as walking around the same area over and over again or twitching your fingers or toes repetitively, can be a symptom.

A feeling a doom or that something will happen to you, such as an accident, heart attack, or even death, can be symptoms of an anxiety disorder or panic disorder.

Numbness in your hands, fingers, toes, and legs or feeling like you can’t stand are also common symptoms.

If you find you have trouble swallowing or unusual dry mouth episodes, these may be indications of anxiety.

Fear of people around you and the desire to be alone are feelings that many anxiety sufferers face.

The inability to leave your home can be a symptom of a severe anxiety or panic disorder.

If your normal activities become overwhelming to you, you could be suffering from anxiety or a panic disorder.

The good news is these symptoms and conditions are no longer thought of as being something people shouldn’t reveal or talk about.

There’s help for you if you suffer from anxiety.

Many mental health clinics and hospitals offer affordable help if you’re on a lower or fixed income.

Your health insurance may help you get treatment, and they cannot reveal your medical treatment to your employer.

As scientists and the medical world become more informed about these disorders, more medications and other forms of relief are found to be effective in treating them.

Relaxation techniques are very effective, and can even be done at home or in the workplace.

Understanding your condition can help alleviate the stress and fear these panic attacks cause and will also help you find a solution to stopping the attacks altogether.

Living life in fear of another panic attack will hold you hostage and prevent you from doing the things you love.

If you suffer from some of the symptoms above, seek help from a professional.

Get the treatment that can put you back on the road to peace, health and happiness. You’ll be glad you did!

How often do you see yourself worrying?

How can you overcome your anxiety and live a happier life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 17, 2019March 11, 2018

Overcoming the Fear of the Unknown

Overcoming the fear of the unknown is a challenging endeavor, but it can be done.

If you suffer from a fear of uncertainty, understanding what fear is, and how it affects you, can start you on the road to conquering it.

Fear has been defined in several ways; however, the most basic definition of fear is an emotional response based on the fact that we’re faced with something unfamiliar or impending danger.

When we experience fear, several psychological and physiological responses take place all at the same time.

Psychological events include feeling emotionally overwhelmed, having high levels of anxiety, and even feeling terrified.

Physiological responses include a faster heart rate, shallow breathing, and similar effects.

Experiencing fear can greatly impact your view on life, your confidence levels, and even the potential that you have as an individual.

Here’s an example of a situation where a woman had the crippling fear that everything she did would result in failure:

Janice was very successful in her career and personal life.

It seemed that people were instantly drawn to her and her ideas, but on the inside, Janice was a mess.

Every time she worked on a project, she would throw herself into it.

In the end, she would ultimately succeed, but on the inside, she was always worried that she would fail or that her completed project wouldn’t be good enough.

For the most part, she recognized the fact that her fear was irrational.

However, Janice grew up in an abusive home.

She was physically beaten and consistently ridiculed by her father.

Regardless of what she did, it was never enough to meet his expectations.

The result was that she grew up to become a workaholic, often struggling to finish several things at once, and leaving very little time for herself.

The root of her fear of failure was grounded in her childhood.

Her father harbored unrealistically high expectations and would be mentally and physically abusive towards her when his expectations weren’t met.

Once she realized this about her past, Janice was able to ease her personal expectations and overcome her fear.

Here are some strategies you can use to help overcome your fear:

1. Recognize your fears. By realizing that you’re fearful, you’re more likely to get to the bottom of what the fear is.

You may also have a fear of facing your fears.

The best way to conquer this fear is to accept the truth behind what’s causing you to experience limited happiness in life.

You might come to understand that you’re afraid of failing or taking chances.

You may even be fearful because you simply don’t have confidence in yourself.

Regardless of the issue at hand, it’s important that you recognize your fear and attempt to define what it is that makes you terrified of the unknown.

The key here is not to dwell on your fear, but rather to understand precisely what it is you’re worried about.

2. Determine the underlying root of your fears.

How can you identify the cause of your fears? An insightful look at your life might reveal the answer.

By recognizing what causes your fears, it’s likely you can overcome them with great success!

3. Face your fears.

Once you’ve accepted your fear and identified the root cause, you’re ready to conquer it! The best method to do this is to face it head on.

Make a decision to purposely tackle your fears by indulging yourself in activities that push you outside of your comfort zone.

For example, put yourself in a place where you’re safe, yet uncomfortable, or respectfully confront someone from your past.

In the end, you’ll find that you can successfully overcome your fears, one by one!

Overcoming your fear of the unknown is a difficult undertaking.

However, if you take the time to engage in these three steps, you’ll discover a renewed peace and happiness within your heart!

As you work to unlock the chains that bind you to your fears, you’ll enjoy a freedom that you’ve never felt before.

How can your fear be turned into a good opportunity?

How can focusing on your goals rather than your fears help you become a better person?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

March 27, 2018January 7, 2018

I free myself from fear by planning ahead.

I am released from the bonds of fear because I have a plan for my day.

A thorough plan is my antidote to worry and frustration.

Knowing where I am headed helps me travel there with confidence.

I am calm when I know the direction in which my life is going.

When I have a plan, I can enjoy peace because I know that I am prepared to face the day.

I can enjoy calm because I have thought about things in advance.

I take pleasure in thinking about the future with intense anticipation, yet I plan ahead to keep myself at an advantage over uncertainty.

Planning ahead helps me cultivate great ideas that may not come to me when I am placed in the spotlight.

Plans are the road maps to my life’s adventures.

My plan is not binding; rather it is a helpful guide that helps to direct me.

When I evaluate my plans, I am able to identify areas that need improvement and I work on those areas before they become a problem.

I am a better person because I take the time to prepare myself in advance.

I know that my arrangements may not always work out, but they set me on a clear path toward bigger and better ideas.

My plans are simply well thought out ideas of the direction I’d like to go.

Today, I choose to be free from fear by creating a realistic plan for tomorrow.

How can you better prepare yourself for tomorrow?

How can you adjust your plans for the future in order to feel more confident?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

March 4, 2018January 5, 2018

Coping with Crippling Fear – When NOT to Trust Your Thoughts

Trusting your inner instincts is an important skill to learn, although there are times when your mind can play tricks on you.

When your body and mind are under stress, it may be difficult to see the difference between good thoughts and those that arise from fear.

Dealing With Fear

No one enjoys dealing with fear; however, it’s a necessary part of a fulfilled life.

The best line of defense is to practice remaining calm and ask for help when you need it.

After all, two minds striving for a rational solution is usually better than one.

When Not To Trust Your Thoughts

Even in difficult circumstances, you probably have an idea about what is truly right or wrong.

However, it’s a good idea to try to recognize the situations where you tend to have trouble thinking clearly.

That way, when these situations do come up, you can start working on solutions, instead of giving into the cloudy thoughts.

You probably shouldn’t trust your thoughts in the following situations:

When you’re under stress – People often don’t recognize how detrimental stress can be to the mind and body.

Stress can cause you to make unwise decisions and think too quickly. Stress can take over your body and produce hormones that alter your thinking patterns.

When you’re feeling anxious – There are varying degrees of anxiety that can affect anyone at any time.

When it takes over in a strong manner, such as when you’re dealing with crippling fear, it can lead to erratic, irrational thoughts or even panic.

When you’re having negative thoughts – Sometimes you’ll have a bad day or even a bad week.

Having a tough time can cause a negative thinking pattern that can cause you to think unreasonable or even absurd thoughts.

You may start to have angry or depressing thoughts that can’t be trusted.

When you’re having thoughts that seem real, but are rather unreasonable, remember that it’s not coming from you.

Rather, it’s coming from the build up and repression of years of self-doubt, negativity, stress, anxiety, or even past circumstances.

That’s precisely why you cannot trust those thoughts!

Dealing With Your Feelings

You now know that negative thought patterns can arise from stress, anxiety, fear or even the past.

Crippling fear, unfortunately, hurls many strongly negative feelings your way.

But it’s how you deal with them and proceed with your thought patterns that make all the difference.

Strive to take time to cool down and relax your mind before making important decisions.

One way to know if something is your true feeling is to wait a few days before making a decision.

For example, if after a week of thinking something over, you still think the same way, then it’s probably true.

Of course, you first have to ensure that your mind isn’t under attack from stress, anxiety, negativity, or fear.

Healing From Fear

If you find that you’re frequently in fearful situations, you can concentrate on healing those feelings.

When your mind begins to race, take in a large dose of oxygen.

Believe it or not, deep breathing is a signal for your mind to relax and think clearly.

So breathe deeply and breathe often!

Also remember that you’re not alone.

You have people who can help you and you shouldn’t feel shy to ask for that help.

If you feel uncomfortable talking with a family member or friend, consider the help of a coach or counselor.

Just remember to avoid taking drastic actions that arise from fear.

Take your time when making decisions, breathe deeply, and seek the help you need to overcome the grips of fear.

How can you face your fears?

How can this affect your attitude towards life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

December 18, 2017

Strategies to Conquer Fear of the Unknown

Worrying about what the future holds is one of the most common fears.

Often times you’re anticipating the worst while, at the same time, realizing that a life in fear is not very pleasant at all.

Fortunately there are certain strategies you can use to conquer your fear of the unknown.

Try implementing some of these techniques to conquer your fears:

Think about the outcomes. When you’re approaching an unknown situation, it helps to make a list of all the possible outcomes.

Some of the results may be good and some not so good, but feeling like you have just a little foreknowledge about the future will help to ease your fears.

Clear the mind. Make an active effort to clear your mind.

One of the reasons you feel fear is that you’re worried that something bad is going to happen.

This could be because of a situation from your past that you’ve projected into the future.

You need to take these thoughts off the table and approach your fears with a clear head.

Take positive steps forward.

It sounds easy, but it may be difficult to put into practice. Strive to visualize everything turning out positively.

If you concentrate more on the positive aspect, you can actually turn your fear into excitement.

Study fear. Fear has a real purpose in appropriate situations.

The experience of fear makes your heart rate rise and you’re better able to escape threatening situations.

However, humans have built many unnecessary and non-life threatening fears.

Once you realize that these types of fears serve no purpose, you’ll be stronger for it.

Talk it through. You might be feeling alone with your fears. It helps to talk through your problems with someone close to you.

Perhaps it’ll help to discuss your fears with someone who has experienced a similar situation.

Just knowing you’re not alone can ease your fear, even if the person doesn’t have any especially helpful advice to give.

Start small. If you’re afraid of the unknown in a general sense, starting small will help reduce your fear.

Instead of tackling a seemingly huge insurmountable task, just try doing something small first.

Break out of your comfort zone for a little bit and try something new you’ve never tried before.

Give up control. The future can be frightening when we think we must control every aspect of it.

While there are certain actions you can take to maintain some kind of control, there are many things you have no control over.

When you accept that the future will be what it will be, regardless of how you feel, it may not seem quite as scary.

Present Thinking

When your thoughts get caught up in the future, whether it’s the near future or the distant future, it clouds your current situation.

If you’re especially fearful, take a step back and focus on what is going on in the present moment.

Your present thinking automatically allows you to take things one step at a time.

If you’re currently doing the laundry, for example, the only thing you should focus on is getting stains out or putting clothes in the dryer – or positive things you look forward to.

Brush other worries away and live in the here and now.

This isn’t to say you should never think about the future.

When you think about the future, do it with a clear head and positive thoughts and without letting the fears bury you.

Following these strategies can alleviate your fear of the unknown and bring you a life full of enthusiasm for the future instead of fear.

What a difference this can make! And there’s no better time to start than the present. Go for it!

What excites you today?

What have you learned from the mistakes in your past?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

December 11, 2017December 11, 2017

My fears are smaller than my feats.

When faced with a new adventure, I dare to venture forward with a positive attitude.

I choose to focus on my strengths in order to drown out the voice of fear. Peace follows me in every step I take.

There is nothing that I will ever face that I do not already possess the strength to overcome.

When I look back at my life’s story, I am encouraged by my achievements.

My past accomplishments help me to look forward to the future with great excitement.

I am certain that I am capable of success because I have already proven it to myself.

I work with confidence because I am aware of my potential.

My mind is a garden where encouraging thoughts flourish. I ignore negative voices that try to speak to my mind and I remind myself of how strong I am.

The truth I know about myself is more important than what others may think about me.

My faith helps me to be brave against uncertainty. There is a hope that lives inside of me that believes all things will work out in the end.

I walk with confidence because I know that my destiny is being fulfilled.

Every day that I cover myself in determination, I am amazed by how far I can rise when I only listen to the voice of truth.

As my dreams begin to take flight, I see my fears becoming smaller and smaller.

The further up I go, the more minuscule my worries appear. Today, I am certain of my success because there is nothing greater than my passion.

What past accomplishment are you most proud of?

When was the last time you were faced with a wall but was able to make it through?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

November 27, 2017

Fear is no match for my strong spirit and will.

My will and my spirit are stronger than any dart of fear aimed in my direction.

When disappointment strikes, I remain confident in myself because I am certain that great success is within my reach.

Though fear may relentlessly try to come against me, my strong will helps me reject fear over and over again.

I carry on in my journey with a positive attitude because my spirit is too strong to be broken.

I dance through the streets of my destiny to the melody of joy, thanks to the invincible spirit within me.

I can accomplish anything I set my mind to when I am determined. I have written down my goals and my vision in order to stay on track.

Nothing can stand in my way when I have a plan and an unyielding will.

Having a vision is like a telescope that magnifies my opportunities and places the barriers in perspective.

When I look at the bigger picture, I realize that the obstacles I may face are nothing in comparison to the wisdom I will gain.

My spirit is fearless in the midst of new endeavors. Armed with courage, I am capable of charting new experiences for myself.

My strong will and audacious spirit propel me to action even when I hesitate.

Today, I am fearless in the face of the unknown.

I choose to replace discouragement with renewed strength and a desire to work harder in order to achieve more than I ever imagined.

When was the last time you were able to overcome fear?

What is your motivation?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!