New Year, New Me, Same Old Fear.

Many of us like to set goals at this time of the year, some more challenging than others. We may be excited right now and looking forward to completing everything. But if anything, I have leant over the years, motivation and excitement don't last long, and fear can start to creep in, distracting us from our goals. Or maybe you're a realist, so you didn't even bother setting goals based on what you want because, well, what's the point? You are too afraid to do it anyway.

Fear is such an interesting emotion; it's one of them that you can feel not because something has happened, but you anticipate something may happen. Thoughts regarding an event that may never take place can literally paralyse you. Our weakness is that we believe our thoughts and beliefs shape our lives. When we take on a new challenge and feel that anxiety, we are small fish willing to swim into a bigger pond. The current is a lot stronger, the water is a lot deeper, which requires a different kind of strength. Once we make it into the bigger pond, we have two choices. Swim back to the smaller pond where we think we belong. Or push against the current and become a bigger fish. You may get pushed back now and then, but building strength requires resistance, so you must go against the current.

When we fear trying something new, we need to recognise that this fear responds to the courage to do something different. Uncomfortable does not always mean wrong. It can mean new; it can mean different. So how do we push through the fear?

"Feel the fear and do it anyway" - Susan Jeffers.

1. Call it out.

There is nothing worse than ignoring how you feel. Our emotions are supposed to inform us, they are not bad in themselves, but they are not supposed to control us; it's how we respond that matters. Being afraid is not bad; it's the mind's way of protecting us, but we need to process each fear actually to determine if it is valid or not.

I ask myself these four questions:

1. What are you feeling?

2. Why am I feeling this?

3. Are my thoughts true?

4. Why do you want to do this, and what is the most productive way to respond?

2. You have a choice.

Question 4 is crucial because you need to recognise that you choose. If you do or don't, it's your choice, not your feelings or emotions. You can't allow them to make life decisions for you. I remember my first driving lesson. I thought I would never drive that I would just be doing ten toes for the rest of my life. But I choose to go back, and it turns out I am actually a really good driver. My emotions told me I could not do it, but I reflected and realised that I was reacting prematurely. It had literally been one lesson, of course, I am not great that's why I need the lessons...duh! I am glad to say I passed the first time, but I am still doing ten toes because a car is a liability (if anyone wants to buy me one and pay insurance, I won't say no).

3. Sprint (run at full speed over a short distance).

Fully commit yourself to that concept for at least two weeks. This is not to become a professional but to become comfortable. When I started playing the guitar, it felt unnatural and uncomfortable, but I kept playing every day. To my surprise, it very quickly became more comfortable, and thanks to muscle memory, my fingers started to know what to do. I am far from professional, but I quickly realised that I could do it. The second you start feeling anxious, start practising, start studying, start working. Respond to the feeling of inadequacy by becoming adequate.

4. Get up and try again.

There may be times when you have tried something and stopped because the fear and anxiety were too much. With negative thoughts swimming around in your head, you couldn't face that thing again, so you quit. Too afraid to even go back and clear out your locker, edit the picture from the last project or even talk about it with friends. Today I say try again. Some of the most famous people are only famous because they never stopped trying. Michael Jordan was told that he was not good enough and dropped from his high school basketball team. Today we know him as the greatest ever.

5. Take it to God.

This is the most important one for me because He is the only reason I can do everything else. There is comfort in knowing that the one who created you and the universe is on your side. So I take my fears, worries and anxieties to Him and exchange them for His peace, courage and strength. I renew my mind daily, meditating on His word, keeping my eyes fixed on truth.

Thank you for reading, and I hope this was able to encourage you somehow. Now go out, make 2022 a great year, try new projects, pick old once back up, fall seven times, get up 8. It may not be a perfect year, but it can surely be beautiful.

Peace and Love Heike Faith :)