October 2017

See and hear what Joel has to say on fear, in video…

Joel Sweeney is all about effective communications. He has been speaking, training, coaching and writing about it for over 20 years. He is the author of The Wedding MC Handbook and Little Helpings of Food for Thought. His third book, The Speaker’s Tool Box – Perfecting the Craft of Speaking, was released in the 2015. He is the owner of Professionally Speaking (established in 1995). Joel helps entrepreneurs and business professional become effective, engaging and confident speakers. www.JoelSweeney.com

LIZ BURT SAYS

I see fear as a motivator.  Lululemon is famous for printing on their shopping bags, “Do one thing every day that scares you”.  I think that this is a great message from this brand. Doing that which we fear can help us grow, and step outside our comfort zones to where the magic happens.  Are we afraid to fail? Afraid to try? Afraid it will be too hard? Afraid of who we will become in the process?

I remember when I was challenged to sign up for the Tely Ten road race for the first time. As a very un-athletic person up until that point, you bet your ass I was afraid. But through the pain that ensued, and the following years of challenging myself through the sport of running, I can honestly say that facing that fear was one of the best decisions I ever made. I learned that through grit, effort, discipline, and consistency, I could accomplish almost anything. One ten mile race lead to another, then a half marathon and then a full marathon and another, and now running is just a part of who I am, a daily practice for body and mind.

When I put my career on hold to go back to school and be a full-time student a few years ago, I was afraid. I was afraid I made the wrong decision; afraid of financial hardships; afraid I wouldn’t get the grades that I thought I deserved. But, yet again, I grew. I not only learned and soaked up knowledge like a sponge, but I grew as a person, more than I ever imagined and in ways I had no idea I needed to grow. I got the grades I needed and I decided to apply for graduate school. I remember crying when I got accepted into a communications program at one of the top universities in Canada.

My examples may have taken a really long time and a hell of a lot of tenacity to finally conquer, but you don’t have to start with the biggest craziest goal first.  It may be easier to start small and let the momentum build. If you start with a small goal, the fulfillment you get from achieving that goal or challenge will propel you forward to the next slightly bigger goal. You will grow, you will gain new confidence and you may even become addicted to challenging yourself.

So, if there’s something you want in life, don’t let fear prevent you from going for it, even if it will take a long time. A wise friend once told me, “Don’t be afraid of the time it will take to get you there, the time is going to pass anyways”. So, with that in mind, what will you do with your time?

Liz Burt is about real and healthy results.  She is a master motivator. She is also a marathoner and marketing specialist living in Calgary, AB. She holds a three-year diploma in Business Management and Marketing, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, and will begin her MA at the University of Alberta this spring. In addition to being wild about learning and running, Liz is also an avid traveller and has backpacked through twenty countries in the last few years. In her professional life she loves working with small businesses to develop simple and effective marketing and communications plans that achieve real results. She is creative, a bit of a health nut and loves to share her healthy passions in her blog. Liz is a goal setter and risk taker. She loves coffee, cooking, and great conversations. She gets huge joy in helping people and small businesses achieve their goals and are always ready to lend an ear and share advice. lizburt.wordpress.com

Ray is busy assisting with relief efforts in Puerto Rico this month; a work of true and ultimate service.  So, I thought to offer a contribution from last year… from Ray… on fear.  Quite the read.

After a horrific auto accident, I was facing an uncertain future and total paralysis. I had a deep seeded fear that I would not only never walk again, but I also feared I would never have a normal relationship – or any relationship – for the rest of my life. At first, I faced this fear quite poorly. I sank into a world of “what if’s” that were all worst case scenarios. I imagined the horrible things that other people were thinking about me or what they might say when confronted by my situation. After two particularly powerful visits by a psychiatrist and a priest, I then changed my view and outlook with one simple twist: I changed all my “what if’s” to be about the absolute best case scenario. I changed all my guesses about what people were thinking about me to be only the most outrageously positive outlooks.

You see, the truth is that it is just as easy to fantasize about the positive outcomes of our fears as it is to imagine the worst case scenario. But that is how fear sucks you in – it allows you to believe that the worst case is more likely than the best case. This is simply not true. I offer as my proof a simple exercise. Try for one moment to face the ‘fear’ of winning a jackpot lottery of $500,000,000. Is that difficult to do? Why? Just remember that it IS just as easy (and just as ridiculous) to dwell on the most fantastic and outrageously good outcomes of the challenges you face. This one small change in how I face my fears and challenges in my daily life has been the root of my ability to consistently feel joy and happiness in even the most trying circumstances. I encourage you to join me and start ‘worrying’ about all the great things that are bound to happen to you this week, this month, and this year!

MARK BLACK SAYS