Overcoming fear is an option at every stage of life. We are born with two fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. Though I lack any scientific or medical training, I would guess people develop fears based on experiences, self talk and perhaps outside influences over the course of a lifetime. There may be times when fear seems irrational or illogical and times when it makes perfect sense. There is always a choice to recognize a fear, understand it and work to overcome it; or let it follow you around in life. I must say there are some fears that come out of the blue and sometimes they are hard to understand.
What started me thinking of fear was a TED Talk I listened to on NPR TED Radio Hour recently. Roz Savage was the featured speaker, a management consultant turned ocean rower. As the story was introduced by the announcer, I was compelled to listen because I could relate to the introduction and kept saying, “Whoa how did she do that?” Of course, as I asked myself that question, the answers were revealed as the talk unfolded.
As I listened, I wondered how many people can relate to how Roz Savage ended up as an ocean rower; how she ended up doing something outside the original “plan”. How many of us follow a path because we feel we should or it is what we are supposed to do. Rules created based on a story we make up about ourselves. Ms. Savage took a management consulting career path because that was the thing to do. It made her question what she was doing with her life and her purpose in life. She wanted adventure and questioned whether she fit the “mold” of an adventurer. She sat down and wrote two versions of her own obituary – the now and the what if versions – and realized the life she was heading for was not what she wanted. She wanted a life she could be proud of and knew she needed to change her course. She realized she needed to create her happiness rather than wait for it to come to her. Ms. Savage ultimately broke out of her comfort zone and took a massive leap of faith and started rowing. Her story about how to overcome fear is fascinating to me. What DO you do when you are alone, in a boat, in the middle of the ocean? You figure it out with what you have at hand.
We all end up standing in the middle of the proverbial ocean at some point in our lives and we have choices to overcome fear or to let it take over. When you are questioning things, when do you take a leap of faith outside your comfort zone? Taking a leap of faith can be intimidating so how do you work through your fear or discomfort to get what you want? What tools do you use to move forward? Who do you reach out to if you need help? Roz Savage was primarily alone, however, when her water purifier broke during a trip on the Pacific, she was able to “phone a friend” using her satellite phone. She found fellow ocean travelers to meet up with to trade fresh water for food. I suppose taking a leap of faith means we have to believe we have what we need and if we need something else, we will find it or it will be brought to us. I suppose once you take the initial leap of faith, you learn how to solve problems in new ways rather than letting fear hold you back. A leap of faith becomes a walk in the park with obstacles and challenges along the way.
What are you questioning today? Are you wondering about your purpose? Are you standing in the middle of the ocean? Roz Savage was in a position like mine at some point and her story reminded me I can do something different and as can most of us. I know I am trying to approach things differently. When I think I have done the right things, I can always reflect on things I can do better next time. I would say leaving your comfort zone is extremely uncomfortable; but once you have left it, you realize you had nothing to fear.