WE all have some fear we would love to overcome. Sometimes people cling to their fears because it’s part of who they are. Before you can begin overcoming fear, you have to be aware that your fears are causing havoc in your life. It’s easy to get so attached to your thoughts and feelings that you think they are all that exist, which couldn’t be further from the truth. You are not your fears. You are the awareness that experiences it.

Below is an excerpt from my first book LIVING WITH INTENTION:

“To let my passion to succeed and overpower my fear to fail became my mantra. For,

even if we fail at something, it does not make us failures. And it is not a matter of if we will fail but when we will fail. Overcoming failure, that’s the crux of the matter! Fear can paralyse us but we need to turn it around and make it our fuel. I love this definition someone shared about FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real. Adversity motivates me. There are always positives and benefits in encountering bad experiences and we can find them if we look hard enough.”

I love this quote from Rosa Parks:

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

A few weeks ago my friend Hilda Bournes invited me to go zip lining and wild water rafting. Without hesitation, I said YES because I promised myself to do new things every year. I would say I am partially acrophobic because I don’t feel totally comfortable with heights. We had 10 lines and each was higher than the other. I found myself asking myself ‘WHY ARE YOU HERE?’ The platforms could barely fit the 10 persons and the operator. I dared not look down while on the platform or zipping across. My stomach started feeling upset and it was from anxiety rather than something I ate. I knew I was not the only one feeling that way, but looking at me you could not tell.

I was determined to complete it no matter what and I did. It was a relief after the last, longest and highest line. Hours later it was Wild Water Rafting which was magnificent. I did not know my paddling skills were so good. The thrill and energy that were generated from 16 rapids placed you on a natural high. Would I do this again? Just every day if I could!

I think everyone should do it at least once in their lifetime.

We were driving over the bridge in New Orleans when I realised why my friend Hilda wanted to do it. She said out loud “Yes! It worked!”

I said, “What are you talking about?”

She then explained that for years she was petrified to drive over long bridges but now she is relaxed and enjoying the scenery while driving. The adventurous activities in Tennessee did it for her. I was happy for her after seeing the look on her face when realising she had conquered one of her fears.

She was intentional about doing something about it and she achieved the results.

What is your greatest fear and what are you going to do about it?

Send us a message to beyondtherunway1@gmail.com as we continue to celebrate life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.