Stomping Out Fear II

I want to tell you this story that I heard once about how they train
elephants in India. It seems that when an elephant is first born, they
take a chain that is connected to a cement stake and tie it around the
elephant’s neck. Then they drive the cement stake and hammer it into the
ground.

The elephant frantically tries to break free from the chain, but cannot
because the harder it pulls on the chain, the more the chain chokes the
elephant. Finally, afraid that it may choke itself to death, the
elephant gives up.

As the elephant grows and gets bigger, any idiot can see that the
elephant can easily free itself from the small chain and the stake that
is only drilled three feet into the ground.

But the elephant can’t see it.

The elephant is fearful of choking itself to death so it never tries to
free itself again.

Sounds familiar?

So many of us are choking ourselves to death by living below our
potential. We are choking on jobs that pay us very little wages and take
away our freedom. We hate what we do, but the fear of choking ourselves
with bills that we “believe” we won’t be able to pay if we do not work
on this job, cause us to sit still, right where we are and never try to
free ourselves—just like the elephant.

We fear the unknown so instead we stay in our comfort zone, no matter
how uncomfortable we truly are.

Fear is a terrible spirit. It can choke us to death if we let it.

Fear can stop us from accomplishing so many things with our life.

Fear has a way of making us think we can’t do a certain thing, when in
fact, if we only really tried, chances are we could do it.

Like the elephant—at 2,000 lbs, and standing 10 feet tall, how difficult
could it possibly be to easily remove that 3-foot stake from the ground?
How difficult could it be for you to break free if you only tried, I
mean REALLY tried.

But because of FEAR the elephant never tries.

Because of FEAR, you never try.

How is fear manifesting itself in your life?

What are your excuses for not living the best possible life you could
live?

Is it that you fear you won’t be able to pay your bills if you try
something new?

Is it that you fear other people’s opinions if you step out of the box?

Is it that your close friends and family are all doing the same thing
you are doing, which is working on jobs that they too, hate and stress
over, so you FEAR being different than they are?

Are you afraid of rocking the boat?

Perhaps you are afraid of success and happiness?

You’ve been frustrated and stressed for all of your life, you don’t know
how to live any other way.

Well, this is the year of change.

This year I’m not going to let you keep allowing FEAR to hold you back.

God has an incredible life planned for you if only you would step up to
the plate and accept it.

Step up to fear and smack her in her face.

Tell that Hussie that you are fed up and won’t take it anymore.

Fear has got to go in 2004!

This is the year when you realize all of your dreams and there simply is
no room for FEAR to come along on the ride.

ACTION POINT! I want you to do a daily affirmation concerning fear.
Each day, as often as you can think about it, look at yourself in the
mirror and say, “I fear NOTHING. With Christ, I can do ALL things!
Therefore, fear does not exist in my life.”

Driving in the car? Turn off the radio and tell yourself, “I fear
NOTHING. With Christ, I can do ALL things! Therefore, fear does not
exist in my life.”

Have time to watch television? Turn it off. Go to the bathroom, close
the door and look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I fear NOTHING.
With Christ, I can do ALL things! Therefore, fear does not exist in my
life.”

If you tell yourself something often enough, eventually you will start
to believe it.

True that!

Dawn Fields is a motivational speaker, author and coach. She has an amazing way of reaching you with her down-to-earth style and her ability to make the impossible seem possible. Sign up for her FREE weekly newsletter by sending a blank email to mailto:yourlifespurpose-subscribe@topica.com.