Face Your Deepest Fear!

We have likely all heard the following poem (often mis-attributed to Nelson Mandela because he used it in a speech). Do you know YOUR greatest fear?

Fear can either show us our limitations or teach us about something that we need to overcome. I encountered a list of several dozen folks' deepest fears, from all areas of this planet.
It's interesting that most of them reflect our mortal fear of failure or premature death. But, in reality, we were created for such greatness, and endowed with such power and light, that failure should not be our fate! Ms. Williamson has summarized the issue pretty well.

Our Deepest Fear

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson

We all battle with fear. Fear of failing, looking like fools or not being loved for who we are. Fear of reliving something that has been or living something that might come. Fear of not being good enough, smart enough or courageous enough.
No one, no matter gender, age, skin color, social status, money in the bank or nationality gets a free pass when it comes to fear. What matters isn’t that we fear (that’s just part of being human), but how we choose to deal with it.
How we perceive our fears is up to us.
You may ask, "But,how do I overcome my deepest fear?" Here are a few suggestions to overcome your biggest fears:
*Challenge your fears anyway.
*Focus on other things besides what you're afraid of.
*Practice meditation.
*Try to think about the positives of facing down your fears.
*Forgive yourself.
*Express gratitude.

One way to move past your fears is knowing that you’re not alone. (Because you’re not).

Embrace your fears. Dealing with fears isn’t easy. But as they say, what we resist, persists. So, instead of resisting your fears, choose to embrace them. Invite your fears in and allow them to give their message. I’m talking about the fear that is limiting you in your life – whether that’s starting a project, worrying too much about something or not being loved for who you are.
What is the fear telling you? Maybe it’s that you have a belief about yourself that isn’t serving you? Maybe it’s that you have people in your life who you care deeply about? Maybe it’s to accept your perfect imperfections and give yourself space to stumble and fall – especially when trying something new? Use your fear to guide you, to help you grow, expand and move forward in a direction that serves you.

Remember, your deepest fear also carries your greatest growth.