What's your biggest fear? The three most common fears will surprise you. They surprised me too, but sure enough, through reflection I recognized these fears in myself too. And now I've conquered them. I shall discuss them in no particular order.
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SUCCESS
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Most people spend their lives sabotaging their every effort, avoiding success at all costs. This is not a conscious process. Consciously, a person will swear she is doing everything she can to get ahead. But subconsciously, she is her own biggest obstacle. This is what the saying means, "The greatest battle is within". Part of the reason for this fear is... in Western society, we're constantly bombarded by advertising which tells us we aren't good enough for Ultimate Success. If we internalize this nonsense, then of course we'll fear success, for how can we accept that which we do not think we deserve?
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PUBLIC SPEAKING
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This is the only fear in the list which isn't all that surprising. It's also probably the easiest fear to remove. Most people can conquer this fear simply by forcing themselves to speak in public enough. The benefits of becoming a good public speaker spill into every other aspect of your life. Boldness, courage, self respect and self discipline, these are just a few of the virtues which are naturally bolstered when a person masters public speaking.
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CHANGE
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This is the biggy, the hardest one to conquer. To utterly conquer the fear of change is to become Enlightened. There are well-understood psychological reasons for this profound fear. The Ego, or self-image, is annihilated by change. It wants to endure. That's why old people are often "behind the times", their Egos stubbornly cling to a bygone world, resisting and fleeing change. But despite its fragility, the Ego is actually a phoenix: As soon as you surrender to change, the old Ego perishes and is instantly restored with a new Ego, a new self-image, and usually a better, wiser one. With this transformation, one realizes the illusionary nature of Ego and self-image. I am not my self-image: it's just a mask, ethereal and ephemeral. The true me is something much more profound and deep, and all the change in the world can do nothing to mar or harm the true me.
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While pondering the things that terrify and excite you, nourish your mind with these other great writings.
Short Story: The Mirror
Self-Improvement?! Give me Self-Destruction!
How To Make Tough Decisions
--------
SUCCESS
--------
Most people spend their lives sabotaging their every effort, avoiding success at all costs. This is not a conscious process. Consciously, a person will swear she is doing everything she can to get ahead. But subconsciously, she is her own biggest obstacle. This is what the saying means, "The greatest battle is within". Part of the reason for this fear is... in Western society, we're constantly bombarded by advertising which tells us we aren't good enough for Ultimate Success. If we internalize this nonsense, then of course we'll fear success, for how can we accept that which we do not think we deserve?
--------
PUBLIC SPEAKING
--------
This is the only fear in the list which isn't all that surprising. It's also probably the easiest fear to remove. Most people can conquer this fear simply by forcing themselves to speak in public enough. The benefits of becoming a good public speaker spill into every other aspect of your life. Boldness, courage, self respect and self discipline, these are just a few of the virtues which are naturally bolstered when a person masters public speaking.
--------
CHANGE
--------
This is the biggy, the hardest one to conquer. To utterly conquer the fear of change is to become Enlightened. There are well-understood psychological reasons for this profound fear. The Ego, or self-image, is annihilated by change. It wants to endure. That's why old people are often "behind the times", their Egos stubbornly cling to a bygone world, resisting and fleeing change. But despite its fragility, the Ego is actually a phoenix: As soon as you surrender to change, the old Ego perishes and is instantly restored with a new Ego, a new self-image, and usually a better, wiser one. With this transformation, one realizes the illusionary nature of Ego and self-image. I am not my self-image: it's just a mask, ethereal and ephemeral. The true me is something much more profound and deep, and all the change in the world can do nothing to mar or harm the true me.
**************************
While pondering the things that terrify and excite you, nourish your mind with these other great writings.
Short Story: The Mirror
Self-Improvement?! Give me Self-Destruction!
How To Make Tough Decisions
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