Types of Fear || Why do we find it difficult to take action?

DISTRACTION: THE ENEMY OF ACTION

Distraction is anything that takes away your attention from what you are doing or thinking about. A lot of us have very good intentions, high hopes, and great dreams. But slowly and stealthily, we seem to let these dreams and hopes slip us by. We literally lose the battle in our minds. The ‘enemy’ helps us to take our attention off what we want, and concentrate instead on what we don’t want.

But who the heck are these enemies? Let’s try to identify a few of them:

1.    Past Programming

The normal (but vicious) cycle is to go to school, get a ‘real’ job, and settle down. When we have dreams that break this cycle, it becomes a struggle: both within and without us. Objections begin to arise. And before we know it, we follow and flow in the ‘rat race’. Like the popular saying, “Let’s do it like it’s always been done, so we can get the result we’ve always got!” But the big question is this: how has it always been?

2.    Past Experiences

Often, we tend to be haunted by our past if we’ve not dealt with it. When we seek to attempt something in which we seem to have failed before, a voice rises up in our heads: ‘Are you sure it won’t be like before?’ Let me share a personal experience: I once had a botched relationship. Though I have forgiven myself and moved on, whenever I consider the subject, I hear a voice asking: ‘Are you sure it won’t be like the last one?’ but I have learnt to convert this to a strength; to consider my motives, vision and values and check if they are in sync with hers.

If not well handled, our past can break us and push us out of the race of life.

3.    Prime of Life

Many realize what they could or ought to do but conclude in their hearts that they are too old to do anything about it. “How can I learn to play a musical instrument again at 50?” “I don’t have the energy to run any business now that I am 60!” “Pursuing passion is for the young. It’s mere youthful exuberance! When they become old like us, they will know we also tried it. Nothing works in this country.”

4.    Pasting of Hope

Hope is the fuel of hope. Hope helps one to be optimistic despite challenges. Hope keeps your gaze on the brighter side of life. Hope keeps you ablaze, aglow and alive.

But when hope is lost, life is lost. And without this life, this vital force, this energy, no matter how excited or motivated one may be, he can never do anything positive and meaningful. Like an excited proton (positive charge), it will eventually attract an electron (negative charge) and return to the resting state (ground level).

5.    Purposelessness

There is no point motivating a purposeless person. It’s like a gun in the hand of a 4-year old. What do you expect him to do with it?

6.    Panic

Or say FEAR! I consider this to be the greatest enemy of action. It is the opposite of faith, or trust. So, we can see the word DISTRACTION is made of two words: DISTRUST and ACTION. Fear makes you distrust the outcome of your actions and keeps you immobilized. It expresses itself in one of the following ways:

a.   Fear of Failure: What if I try and it fails? How do I get myself back?

b.   Fear of Ridicule: won’t people jeer me? Won’t they say I’m proud and arrogant?

c. Fear of Isolation: I would be on my own if I try. It’s better to flow with the crowd. Why should I lose all my friends and connections?

d.   Fear of the Unknown: what will happen if I try now? One bird at hand is worth two in the bush. The devil we know is better than the angel we only we hear about.

e.   Fear of Rejection: will people accept me? Won’t I be pushed around as if I’m nobody?

f.     Fear of Success: What if I succeed and fail again? And won’t my success make me look arrogant and phony. Besides, all successful people are cheats.

g.    Fear of the Future: what does tomorrow hold for me? Let me just live one day at a time.

h.   Fear of Incompetence: Am I capable or competent enough? May be I should wait and acquire more knowledge before I try! While it is good to know, this statement is usually borne out of fear. You will never realize how much you know until you try.

i.     Fear of Connection: Who do I know that can help me, or that I may ask for help?

j.    Fear of Consistence: Will I have enough energy or resources to continue if I start? When faced with challenges, will I be able to hold on?

k.    Fear of Completion: can I finish this thing even if I start it? Will I ever live to reap the rewards if I start now?

l.   Fear of Commitment: Won’t this bind me to something and take away my freedom? Will I still be able to do things the way I’d always wanted to?

We are all a product of our past habits. What we’ve done before we may likely do again. To see a different and brighter future, we must jettison dysfunctional and deterrent habits, and embrace progressive and promoting ones. We must feed our minds with the right information to think right. And as we think right, we feel right, and act right. King Solomon said, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” Find out what God has said about you and your future. Meditate on it till you have an assurance in your heart that what is said of you is true. Trust is the only antidote against rust.

Friend, you can change your world by taking the right steps today, however challenging it seems. Feel the fear and act anyway. Your success story is the next to be told. I long to hear from you.

I believe in you!

Ayo Bankole: An International Keynote Speaker, Creative Writer, Leadership and Productivity Coach, and Corporate MC. He has spoken on several platforms - from schools, churches, business organizations to gatherings of all classes. He is the President of Barnabas International, and Principal Coach, SOAR Academy. He designs websites for leisure. He is based in Lagos, Nigeria.