Courage is not the absence of fear…

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” ~Ambrose Redmoon

I LOVE this quote!

How many times have you not done something because of fear only to resent the decision afterward? I can ask because I’ve done it myself. Fear can be overwhelming and in some cases, it can overtake our sensibilities.

Don’t get me wrong. We’ve been given fear for a reason. Fear can protect us from harm, bad decisions and danger.

However, the danger with fear is allowing it to control your destiny. Take a look at your life. What fear is holding you back from achieving everything you’re meant to achieve?

For me, fear seemed to be a way of life for years. Then, similar to the quote, I decided that living my life was more important than living my fears. I went through years of therapy and forced myself into fearful, yet safe situations.

For example, I had always wanted to learn how to scuba dive, but I was afraid of the water. So, 16 years ago when I moved to San Diego, I got my swimsuit on, grabbed my snorkel gear and headed down to the water. While practically hyperventilating, I would swim out past the breakwater and dive under the water. Eventually, the fear subsided and I got certified as a scuba diver!

Since then, I got married to an amazing man, had two beautiful children, started my own business, became a national speaker, interviewed women across the nation, wrote a book and now host a radio talk show. By facing my fears, I could finally live my life!

I still have one final fear that I am in the process of conquering. The fear of losing weight. I’ve hired a weight and fitness coach to help me to move past this fear…to help me to think differently and also keep me accountable. This fear, which used to be valuable as a self-preservation tool, no longer has value for me and yet I keep finding ways to give it power…keeping me from what I would like to see in my life. I know that I’m a different person and I need to love myself enough to express it in all areas of my life.

What about you? What fear is holding you back?

Let go and be!

Deidre Hughey

II Timothy 1:7 ~ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.