Posted by Peter Arnold / Canada on September 25, 2002 at 12:50:33:
Dear PN partners:
Too often, we are held back from being all that we can become in this life - because of FEAR.
The fear of rejection...the fear of "no's"...the fear of what others think of us...the fear of poor health -
finances - failure - success - etc.
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"Did you know that our greatest battle will never be found where armies have fought? Our greatest enemies will never be other nations or nationalities. The greatest enemy of enemies - that has slain multitudes upon the battlefield of life - is fear itself." (Jim Rohn)
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It has been said...if we fear a mountain, climb it...if we fear the ocean, swim across it, or build
a boat and sail over it...if we fear the wind, set our sail and be propelled towards our goal...if we fear the valley or river, build a bridge and traverse it...on and on.
Whatever 'fear' we have within - we're told to face it, head on...to confront it...and not to run...
because those of us who run "from" fear will be overtaken...but those who run "towards" fear
will overcome it (the "action" of a WARRIOR).
How TOUGH are we?
I believe the battle is OURS to win. There will always be wars within - but there will always be victories - as we courageously face life's challenges to fulfill our DREAMS (the 'starting' point of our success journey).
It's only when we get 'backed into a corner' that we really start to discover how much COURAGE we really have within our belly.
When the going is easy, anyone can smile.
But when things get TOUGH - or plans don't go as
expected - or our business seems to be at a standstill - or our health takes a hit - or whatever - that's when we "separate the men from the boys".
I believe it's in the heat of battle that heroes are birthed - and it is in the overcoming of problems
and CHALLENGES and struggles that true giants are born.
How TOUGH are we?
We've all heard of the expression..."tough times produce tough people"..."when the going gets
tough - the tough get going"...etc
But what does the word TOUGH really mean?
Here's what Webster's says about TOUGH..."not easily damaged -strong - standing firm - not easily cut or broken - well able to endure suffering and hardship - robust.
Here's a little story - some have no doubt heard it before - but I think it's very inspiring...
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"Shake it Off and Step Up"!
The story is told of a farmer who owned an old mule.
The old mule fell into the farmer`s well.
The farmer heard the mule "braying" - or whatever mules do when they fall into wells.
After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the old mule, nor the well, were really worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and then he enlisted them to help haul "dirt" to BURY the old mule in the well, and put him out of his misery.
Initially, the old mule was hysterical. He was stunned - in a state of shock. He became desparate.
He thought this was the end - he panicked - he was terrified - he braced for the worst, as he felt the weight and the hurt of that dirt strike him, over and over and over.
Then his fear turned more to anger...then to "wrath", at the indignity and injustice of what was happening to him.
And then, as the farmer and his neighbors continued the onslaught...and the dirt kept striking his
back...and the pain grew more intense...a thought struck him...
It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...he should try to SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!!
This he did - blow after blow after blow...shake it off and step up!...shake it off and step up!...shake it off and step up!...shake it off and step up!...he repeated...over and over and over to himself - to encourage himself - to convince himself - to blindly stay the course.
He wanted to "scream" with the mixture of torture and outrage.
But no matter how "painful" the blows - how distressing the situation seemed - how impossible the
goal...the old mule fought THROUGH his "fear, panic and outrage" and just kept right on...SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPING UP!
You`re right - it wasn`t long before that old mule... battered and exhausted...STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OUT OVER THE WALL of that well!
What seemed like overwhelming odds...something that should have BURRIED him...actually BLESSED him...all because of the manner in which he HANDLED his adversity...his own thought process...his toughness... his ATTITUDE in the heat of BATTLE.
That old mule 'faced his fear' - his COURAGE was tested - but he 'acted' on his BELIEF - nothing would
deter him in his quest. Nothing. His persistence and overwhelming determination and inner bravery WON
the war.
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And so it is in OUR businesses...OUR professions...OUR careers...OUR lives...
If we can FACE our problems and challenges and fears...however heavy, or frightening, or ugly they
may be...and if we try to respond to them in a POSITIVE way...however hard that may be...and
REFUSE to 'give in' to our fears...or to panic...or to become bitter...or to succumb to self-pity...we
will WIN too. We WILL win.
How TOUGH are we?
It has to do with our MIND-BODY connection...it has to do with 'harnessing' the spiritual and dynamic laws of PROSPERITY and ABUNDANCE...with the 'power' of our BELIEF system.
I am convinced that our beliefs are the 'driving force' behind our behaviors.
Beliefs send powerful messages to our brain that affect our ACTIONS (and their outcome) - in either
a "positive" or a "negative" way.
These negative belief BARRIERS are real - they are
powerful 'motivators' that can actually cause us to REPEL 'success' - as strange as that might sound. We would just 'push it away' like a child might refuse spinach.
The problem isn’t just our FEARS. It's that our fears represent a powerful, 'self-limiting' BELIEF.
And until our NEGATIVE beliefs are identified - and 'replaced' with EMPOWERING beliefs - no amount of 'positive thinking' will help us create and attain lasting success in my opinion.
The ADVERSITIES that come along to 'test' us - as they surely will - usually have 'within' them - the
potential to not only BENEFIT us...but even to BLESS us.
Our MIND is the most powerful tool in the universe.
It is the ONE thing that WE have total - complete and absolute CONTROL over.
Our THOUGHTS will 'write our story' in the weeks, months and years ahead.
TODAY is a NEW beginning.
How TOUGH are we?
The link below will bring you to some wonderful Free eBooks that will add to your 'successful thinking' library. Just scroll down and view the left side (you'll have to sign in as my Guest to 'access' them).
Hope you enjoy (hope I 'keyed it in' Ok)...
Thanks for the privlige of learning and posting on this great Board.
Sincerely, Peter A.
Peter R. Arnold, CLU, CFC
Business Achievers Academy
Nova Scotia / Atlantic Canada
Proud members of Professional Networkers - 4Life