Tag: fear

Perspective

Monsters

For any child who believes there are monsters in the closet, there are.

Last night I had a dream about a figurative monster that was trying to “get me.” To defend myself, I rallied people I trust around me so that they could help me fight it, but felt confused when they started to befriend my perceived enemy.

With reluctancy, I decided to entertain the idea that my figurative monster may not be threatening. And as I slowly put away my weapons and approached with caution, my monster did not change form, but my perceived threat started to evaporate.

The monsters we create are unique to us. If we can feel safe enough to slowly remove our defenses and approach at our own pace, we may be surprised to discover that the threat is most powerful when we avoid or fight it. Either way, for the person who believes there is a monster in the closet, there is.

Perspective

Better than you

Who knows you the best? Who is the one person that can tell you anything about yourself, what you like, don’t like, your beliefs or your deepest fears and passions?

There is a person who knows you on this most intimate and deepest level, that person is you. We have all the information on who we are, which means that we don’t have to willingly take on everything others try to tell us about ourselves.

And equally – in the expression of Maya Angelou – why not believe others when they show you who they are? Because ultimately, who knows you, better than you?

Perspective

Dreaming of fear

Last night I had a dream that someone was chasing me with a weapon. At first, I started to run. Then, I stopped, turned around and started to chase them. They looked surprised at me facing them and I could start to see their real weakness with every step. When I finally caught up to the person, I took the weapon away only to see it could not have done any harm to me in the first place.

I interpreted this dream as fear or rather, the perception of fear. When I was running away, the fear had me under its spell. As I turned to face it, the illusion was broken and it lost all the power it had over me. Reminding me that facing my fear is always better than being paralyzed by the illusion of its power over my life.

Personal Growth

Fear, doubt, and that thing limiting our full potential

Over the weekend I met a wickedly smart 16 year old. She confessed to being a perfectionist; a common term used by people trying to explain why they procrastinate or hide their truest selves. As a recovering perfectionist, I recognize this pattern like my favorite pair of shoes. There are a few types of people:

1. People who are waiting to reveal their true selves.

2. People who are catching up to who they really are.

3. And people who know their truest self.

The first step to wisdom is calling things as they really are. Start calling perfectionism what it really is; procrastination, fear, doubt, and “that thing” limiting our full potential.