By Nancy Virden (c)2024

When fear paralyzes you, your best intentions are not often enough to get you moving. If willpower was the solution we would all be meeting our goals each day. However, fear works quietly and is difficult to decipher at times. We may not know why we feel fear or may be unaware that fear is holding us back.

1. Take small steps. A therapist suggested to me that I make a to-do list. He said I did not have to do any of the tasks, only make the list. These kinds of baby steps are helpful. If you are like me, you excel at to-do lists already but barely move toward what is most important. So, do the next tiny step. Your trajectory may not be a straight line but you will be moving. Each day or week, do the next tiny step.
2. Think about or write down your values. Only you can decide who you want to be. It helps me to think about the future. Do I want to be one year older and still not have this fearsome task done? Won’t I feel better tomorrow if I take one small step? How do I want to feel?
3. Do the hardest part first. You may not be ready for this, but doing the hardest part first removes most of the fear. If you can, take small steps toward this end.
4. Find your motivation. If accountability works for you, tell someone what you are going to do. If money gets you going, set some aside as your reward. Perhaps it is approval you want. Prepare certificates for yourself and when you make those small steps, show them to your family. Make a nice one for when you finish the task. If a coach would motivate you, get one.
5. Uncover the fear. If you are self-aware, you may discover for yourself what to do about the fear or you may want to find professional help. The point of this is not to dig up old stuff, but to be healed once and for all.
6. Forgive. Unforgiveness, resentment, and bitterness will feed other negative emotions in your mind. Forgiveness is not saying that whoever hurt you was good; a criminal should have to pay the consequences, for example. Forgiveness is an attitude; you are not seeking revenge for revenge’s sake.

I am taking a small step today. Will you join me?

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Psalm 33:20-22

We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or for a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speaks only from personal experience and observations. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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