Fear.
I don’t care who you are or where you come from, we all struggle with various fears on a daily basis. It’s one thing that unites us all, but it’s also something we don’t talk about very often. Instead, we often hear much more about hate, anger, jealousy, and criticism which only further leads to more fear. What if we just started talking more about what scares us?
Fear can be crippling. As someone who has suffered from chronic anxiety my entire life, I know that all too well. If left unchallenged, our fears can multiply. I personally fear failure, mistakes, judgment, health of myself and loved ones, not being worthy or deserving, disappointing myself and others. I even fear that I won’t be able to overcome my fears. Sometimes fears are on a smaller scale, but they seem difficult nonetheless – going out to see friends, making a difficult phone call, or getting back into an old sport. Fear can be motivating, “Oh I don’t want to mess up my speech, so I’m going to practice every day this week.” or demotivating, “I messed up and feel like an idiot, so I won’t make myself vulnerable again.”
Because of our fears and in spite of our fears, I’m making a special challenge for the month of August. This month I’m personally challenging myself and any of you who are interested to take control of our fears, whatever they may be!
From the wise words of Eleanor Roosevelt, my challenge for August is to do one thing a day that scares you.
The beauty of this challenge is that YOU define it. You make the rules and decide what is challenging for you. We all know ourselves better than anyone and it’s up to us to define this challenge in a way that meets our own needs.
I currently have some things in my life that are holding me back and I’ll be working daily this month to challenge fears and negativity and make room for personal growth.
To keep myself accountable, I’m logging my daily feats on a calendar each day. By the end of the month, I’ll hopefully have a log of large and small fears that I overcame. The end result is intended to build confidence, inspire new personal challenges, and remind ourselves that we are more powerful than we know.
How to participate
As always, let me know in the comments if you’d like to join in! I’d love to hear about what fears you’ve overcome all month long, so feel free to leave a note on my blog or Facebook page and tell me about it. If you write a recap at the end of the month on your blog and send it to me, I will try to compile all of the links in a post so others can read about your journey too. I’d love to hear about your experiences!
Last but not least, here are some quotes on fear to get us inspired: (source)
“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.”
― John Lennon“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.”
― Jim Morrison“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
― Marie Curie“Don’t be afraid of your fears. They’re not there to scare you. They’re there to let you know that something is worth it.”
― C. JoyBell C.
For more inspiring quotes, see my quote page.
If you are looking for more personal work, my Gratitude Challenge, could work hand in hand with this month’s challenge.
Here’s to August!
Great idea for a challenge, Angela! When I saw you were announcing a challenge, I literally thought ‘well, there’s no way I’ll be able to participate this time… I’ve got way too much on my plate!’ but that fits so perfectly with the theme. I’m preparing for my wedding, and have just over a month to get everything together (and I’m making my cake!). Talk about fear! I have a very big voice in my head telling me I can’t, or that I’ll fail, or that something will go wrong… and an even bigger voice urging me to just elope and get it over with! Pulling off a celebration with the family is definitely a fear I’ll be tackling this month. Thanks for the motivation!
I just got married two weeks ago, and I felt so many emotions before my big day too. The time goes by so quickly, so just enjoy it. No matter what happens, at the end of the day, you will be married and it will be perfect!
I’m getting married in 2.5 months and I’m terrified. Thanks for the motivation with this challenge, I’m definitely going to participate, even if it scares me!!
Thanks, Emily! I know it will be wonderful in the end. :)
I was married in early June and definitely understand your fear. Everyone said, “It’s crazy now, but the day will come and it will be absolutely perfect, no matter what happens.” I didn’t belive it.
…but it’s true :)
Talking about marrige and fear..I was scared to death couple years ago when taking responsibility for making flowers for my niece wedding! Turned out well…There is russian folklore for this “eyes are affraid but hands are doing..” Good luck with your cake, you’ll be fine and, anyway, any mishaps will be remembered later on more than all smoothly going stuff :)
I’m in!! Thank you so much for this post! I’ve been struggling for the past 9 months or so with food anxiety and anorexia, but am working toward my recovery. It has put a huge weight on my life and has had a huge impact on my family relationships.. I was never close with my parents so I denied having a problem to them, and in turn my parents end up causing even more anxiety for me. Even though I know they are just worried about me, its difficult to handle especially since I’ve denied it so long and tend to be a little stubborn about accepting help. I’m working on rebuilding myself and overcoming my anxiety and I’m ready to move onward and upward so this is exactly the type of challenge I need :) You have always been an inspiration to me and have already helped me through a lot!!
p.s. your new layout looks amazing! i love it
What a great challenge idea! I have suffered from anxiety for about 8 years now. Driving has always produced tons of anxiety, so I think to start off the challenge, I’m going to start of by driving to the grocery store and doing some shopping!
My scary thing is to change careers.
I worked as a web developer 10 years ago, but got out of that career after a horrible job experience that sent me running for the hills to do anything different. “Different” ended up being an executive assistant and moving into a pro bono coordinator at a major law firm. While I love doing this work as I think I’m helping people in some way, I’m increasingly at odds with the direction and environment of the workplace. Turning from the place that wanted to do good for others into a place that puts profits, working and paying clients over all else.
Thus my scary thing is bringing my skills to a 2012 level and switching jobs! To top off the scary sundae, I gave myself a deadline of October to do so. Pretty damn frightening, if you ask me!!
I love this challenge! I’m going to do my best to write my conquered fear down everyday. My biggest challenge this month? Saying “no” and doing what’s best for me, instead of trying to please everyone else. I suffer from anxiety too, so I think this will be good for me!
I was looking through the comments for some inspiration about how to challenge my fears and this is perfect! I can really relate to the your fear of saying no when you need to. Thank you!
This post is perfect timing. I’ve just come to realize his much anxiety I have on a daily basis and I am ready to do something about it. Count me in!
I really love that last quote. Perfect reminder today – it’s been a really tough/challenging work week.
What an inspiring idea for a challenge! You left out my favorite quote about fear:
——————————-
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
(Dune)
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Yay, Dune!
Great timing for this challenge! I start professional school in just under a month, and I’m already anxious about the new people I have to meet, and all of the things I’m going to have to do. This will be really motivating!
We all allow fear to hold us back sometimes. I try to hold on to these verses to help me through. We need to let go of our fears in order to rise up higher.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
The fear of man brings a snare: but whoso puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Psalm 56:3-4
Amen. God and His Word is enough for any trial!
This is such a great post. I actually mentioned something similar at the end of a recent blog post: don’t let anything hold you back. Going into my last year of college before the “real world”, I definitely can see how I might be dealing with fear a bit more than usual over the next year. But like you said, I should use it as a motivating factor!
I’ve noticed a few other bloggers writing more introspectively lately and I absolutely love it. Really looking forward to this challenge!
What a great way to start August! I’ll definitely join in because I’ve been letting fear control my life for too long.
Oh my, I could go on and on about this! Great theme for August, Ange. There are a few things holding me back from opportunities at the moment but some of these quotes (and your challenge) are inspiring me to move forward. Writing them on post-its now! :)
This is a great idea! I feel so stagnant in my progress right now so maybe I need to look fear in the eye and pump up the volume!
Have you read My Year with Eleanor by Noelle Hancock? A great book that goes with your challenge. .
Love your new blog banner. <33
Challenge accepted! Off to compile a list of my fears…
I can’t tell you how excited I am for this challenge. This month is going to be a difficult one, and as a fellow sufferer of chronic anxiety, I have a tendency to let my fears really hold me back or drive me into unhealthy behaviors rather than just face them. I love the John Lennon quote you included! After I first went to ED inpatient treatment I got at tattoo that says “Love drives out fear” to always remind me that fear is an inhibitor, but looking at the world through a lens of love is freeing. I got the quote from The Four Agreements, but have since found it in the Bible too, and the JOhn Lennon quote reminds me of it as well. Thank you so much for sharing this challenge! Good luck on all your accomplishments–I can’t wait to see what you do and can’t wait to participate!
xoxo
This is just the boost I needed today! I have a few things I fear that I plan on getting over this month. Thanks for the push. :)
What a great challenge Angela! This is exactly what I need this month of August before returning to my last year of undergrad in September. I also struggle with anxiety and your previous posts have inspired me to continue on in learning and growing. When I read your posts about anxiety and issues in University they made me realize “this is me!” and I sought the help I needed. Once again, reading your blog has offered me new inspiration with this challenge!
My biggest fears are social and healthy anxiety as well as fearing failure. This month I want to challenge myself rather then remain in my comfort zone. You are an example of how taking a leap of faith has great rewards (your career change) and that ultimately trusting yourself is the way to go.
This month I am going to trust my instinct rather then chose fear (and comfort).
Have a lovely day :)
I am SO with you on your fears! I am going into my junior year as an undergrad and I always put a ton of pressure on myself to be “perfect” in school, but my biggest fears are definitely social and health anxiety. I tend to avoid social situations where I don’t know anybody, but I realize that this is holding me back from having a truly full life-challenge #1! My health anxiety tends to revolve around the health of my family (not so much myself) and I constantly worry about something “bad” happening to them-challenge #2! Like you, I am going to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone, just live, and see what happens! Good luck to you!
Avoiding social situations with people I don’t know used to be my BIGGEST issue. It prevented me from going to parties or meeting up with friends and I would often make excuses. I started confiding in my best friend about my anxieties and she has become my wing woman. Whenever I am nervous I talk to her about it and she usually talks me into going haha or comes with me. Once I started getting used to it meeting new people became a lot easier. I still struggle with this but it’s a lot better now that I have confided in friends and push myself.
The competitive nature of University puts a lot of pressure on students academically and social pressure can be tough too!! I think it’s just important to remember school is not the end all be all of life and that balance is necessary. Grades won’t suffer if you take time to enjoy yourself.
Good luck to you too!
I know what you mean. I have such a fear of social situations that I usually avoid them…unless I absolutely have to. Even commenting on this blog fills me with a sense of fear…nervous about what people will say, what people will think. Making new friends puts me out of my comfort zone. I guess it’s the fear of rejection. I know I’m late in the game with this August Challenge (as I just found this amazing blog) but I so need to challenge myself in life and not let my fears stop me from having a full and rewarding life.
Hi Elle, I’m glad you commented. :) Thank you! I hope you grow to feel welcome here. Goodluck with your goals.