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Fear Cheats Us

Some people would call Janiece a very smart woman, but few would say she's living to her full potential, not even Janiece. Born in a very wealthy family in Dallas she learned early "the value of money". Through example she learned to pennypinch and economize "until it hurt" from parents and grandparents.

Now as a 50-year-old self-made businesswoman, having earned millions on her own, she's still following the notion "cling to your money or else it'll leave you". What she failed to realize was pennypinching represented fear of lack. All of those desires, regardless their simplicity or granduer, she holds dearly will never be realized due to her fear of losing her money.

Something else should be mentioned about persons who refuse to spend money. They tend to have guilt for having money. A wealthy person feeling guilty for having money? Yes, most people from poor beginnings can attest to hearing as children, "save your money for a rainy day", "money don't grow on trees", "hang on to your money or it'll flee", and "a penny saved is a penny earned". All of those saying are screaming "lack" and giving justification to "money clinging".

Fear=Lack, Lack=Fear.
Result: Unrealized Potential

Just as poor people heard those sayings it's quite possible many wealthy persons with earnest beginnings were told the same. So when they acquired their wealth they did so feeling as if they didn't deserve it because others didn't have the same.

I know so far the topic has been on pennypinchers but it also applies to jobs and relationships. How often have you worked in a position in which you were overqualified out of fear of seeking employment that better suited you? I know of a young woman who held a position for ten years which she disliked and for which she was overqualified. Why?

She was fearful she wouldn't be able to find a position that best suited her ability and education. Fear of starting anew in another company played a key role in keeping her in a job she hated, cheating her of the quality of life she desired.

Fear=Stagnation, Stagnation=Unhappiness
Result: Unrealized Potential

What about the married woman who wore a black eye every weekend thanks to her abusing husband but yet endured this for thirty years. Why did she do it? Fear. Fear that a dirvorce would throw her life into irreparable chaos. Fear of what he would do to her, and most of all fear of what her future held for her.

Unknown=Fear, Fear=Misery
Result: Unrealized Potential

The bottomline is, life is not worth living if you can't live fully realizing your dreams. Fear leads to partial existence, never knowing for yourself how sweet life could be.

Fear doesn't have to cheat you of the life you desire to live. If you feel fear when thoughts of doing something different surface, see it for what it is, fear of change. Then follow your desire. Just think how much more exciting and fulfilling life would be if you were able to sort out unfounded fears instead of giving into them.

ALWAYS REMEMBER 99.9% OF PERCEIVED FEAR IS NOT REALITY BASED.