There Is No Illusion Greater Than Fear

"Fear does not exist anywhere except in the mind."

What do John Dillinger, James “Whitey” Bulger and Osama bin Laden all have in common?

At one time or another…each made their way to the top of the FBI’s Most Wanted List and were considered to be Public Enemy #1.

The term Public Enemy #1 has been used for centuries to describe pirates, outlaws, terrorists, bootleggers and all around bad guys.

It originated in Roman times as the Latin hostis publicus (“enemy of the people”), typically translated into English as the “public enemy”.

From a performance standpoint there is a much more pervasive and far more devastating public enemy that we should all concern ourselves with.

THE REAL PUBLIC ENEMY #1…the primary weapon of mass destruction that has extinguished more dreams, ideas, careers, marriages and lives than any gangster ever could is…FEAR!

Fear is a self-inflicted act of sabotage…one that far too many people have chosen to accept, embrace and perpetuate…with devastating consequences.

Fear is a silent, slow, gradual killer of performance that has caused millions of people in the past, and which will cause millions of people in the future to go to their graves with their hopes, dreams, and passions still inside them.

And for those who think overcoming fear and replacing it with courage is hard….I suggest you brace yourself for a lifetime of quiet and painful suffering.

FLIPPING THE BIRD TO FEAR

Most of us have two lives: the life we live, and the unlived magical life hidden deep within us. What do you say we put an end to that today?

So, what is it that compels people to be fearful, to think and act like part of the herd and to live an entire lifetime with very little to show for it?

For the majority of us, it is the desire for safety, refuge, security — in short, the inclination to play it safe and remain in the comfort zone.

But the life you want, the truly magical life that you want to experience…will only happen once you face your fears and actively work to get outside your comfort zone. Always has. Always will.

Fear is unworthy of your companionship…it’s an unwanted visitor, one who’s occupied too much space in your mind and who’s overstayed his welcome.

Your ultimate goal is to face it, to conquer it and use it as the trigger for unleashing your greatness.

The human being who does not wish to belong to the masses, who dares to show the world what she is capable of creating, must cease being controlled and manipulated by fear.

She must resist the gravitational pull of the comfort zone and instead follow her conscience, which shouts at her…Let your light shine bright!

Fear is never a reason for quitting or for second-guessing yourself. It’s only a cowardly excuse for those unwilling to face their doubts, insecurities, and their mental boogie man.

Therefore, your first duty in rising to meet a challenge is to conquer fear and the mental resistance it brings along with it.

You must choose to get rid of it, to conquer it…or any hope, dream or goal you are considering will wind up being DOA — Dead On Arrival.

To truly comprehend the meaning of everything you ever want to be, have and do is ONLY going to be found on the other side of fear… I’d like you to think of someone you admire and ask yourself…

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face."

What challenges did they rise up to meet, and what fears did they need to overcome in order to become the person they became?

What you’ll find in answering that question is that behind every great man or woman is a series of challenges that were overcome, fears that were overruled, belief systems that were overhauled, and obstacles overrun.

THE HIGH COST OF FEAR

So what is fear costing you?

What are the consequences of keeping your dreams on hold?

What is the impact on your life when you run from rather than toward a challenge?

Let’s look at a few of the many consequences associated with quitting, being underemployed, remaining fearful, and not rising to meet the demands of a challenge.

1. Diminished Sense of Self-Worth and Personal Value

Eventually you come to think of yourself as “the kind of person” who is undeserving of success. When you begin to lose faith in yourself, it leads to a downward spiral of psychological devastation that is extremely difficult to overcome.

2. Perpetuation of Pain

Avoiding a challenge and running from your fears only achieves self-sabotage and the perpetuation of pain, which leads to a cycle of failure and disappointment. Failure’s high price is commonly imposed through bankruptcy, unemployment, depression, poor grades, stress, and other forms of physical and psychological pain.

3. Character Assassination

By allowing fear to control your life, you will serve as a disturbing example of wasted talent, of someone who chose fear over courage. Your life will be viewed as the sad consequence of neglect, excuse-making, self-pity, poor character, lack of direction, and a courage deficit.

4. Development of a Quitter Reputation

Quitting is a habit, and the path of least resistance. Facing your fears requires that you to increase your level of resistance and tolerance to pain, inconvenience, and sacrifice. Once you develop a quitter reputation, your options become limited, your reputation becomes questionable, and your future is in serious jeopardy.

5. Your Become a Traitor

By refusing to face your fears, you by default choose to betray, openly resist and rebel against opportunity and the chance for a better life.

In effect, you become your own worst enemy, a real life Benedict Arnold…and your very own Judas Iscariot as the greatest from of betrayal is betrayal of oneself.

Fear of any type is a temperamental beast…it’s a bastard that must be dealt with through the heroic virtues of courage, boldness and tenacity.

Be mindful, feat is built for a fight…it works to mentally wear your down and will not be vanquished quickly nor easily.

That’s why if you’re ever going to find your greatness, you must choose to face your fears whatever they may be, you must develop the personal constitution to conquer that which is determined to conquer you, you must deliberately enforce your will over any obstacle and advance toward your goals with an indomitable, unbeatable spirit.

The 100 Day Challenge is a rapid execution system used by more than 675,000 high-achievers to achieve life-changing results in 100 days. Don’t do it unless you want spectacular results.

The strategies you’ll learn in the 100 Day Challenge have elected a president, grown non-profit causes, won gold medals and fueled movements. Now it’s your turn to win bigger faster!