All of the available space in my Bible was filled with notes after church service on Sunday. The sermon was about how our actions are almost always originated by fear or love really spoke to me. When I stopped to think about it, it made sense. When people make excuses for following their dreams it is because they’re scared. When people don’t encourage you to be the best that you can be, it’s because they’re afraid of how your success will reflect on them. When we can understand that people do things to hurt us because they are scared, it allows us to have more empathy for them. Instead of seeing them as jealous haters, you see them as individuals who are fearful of something. When we look at them this way, it is easier to show grace and compassion. 

Fear can be such a driving force in our everyday lives. Even when we don’t feel the common physical symptoms that are usually associated with fear, our actions can be fear-based. Sometimes, we act in a way completely unaware that the root of our action is fear. When people tell you you cannot do what you dream of doing, it is not a reflection of your talents or gifts or abilities. It is a reflection of their own insecurities and deep-rooted fears. Do it anyway.

Design the product, start the service, hold the meeting, make the phone call, do whatever it is that scares you. Being courageous does not mean you are not afraid. It means you are afraid and you do it anyway. You will not reach next-level success if you are afraid to take risks. You will not be the business leader or entrepreneur or parent or friend that you need to be if you let fear hold you back. 

You already have everything you need to take the next step towards achieving your goals. Listen carefully to what those naysayers are not saying. You may hear them say you are not good enough, smart enough, or rich enough. But what they’re not saying is that they’re actually worried about how your success will make them feel inferior. They have yet to learn that there is plenty of success to go around and choose to see your success as a threat.

This is your reminder that fear is a liar.