Walk Through the Fear

I have a full day of shooting ahead. No, I'm not going on a duck hunt, I'm creating a video about the Yukon for the 2010 Olympics and we're filming a segment today.

I've got a small crew assembled and we're heading out into the urban landscape to talk to Yukoners of all ages and races about why they live in this magnificent place. It's going to be an adventure.

Trouble is, I have woken up feeling extremely exhausted. My energy is very low.

Now, this could be because I am, in fact, tired. Although I have been averaging between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night, I have been waking up at five and putting in long, full days. I've been resting during the day, taking cat naps if and when necessary but it's been a marathon week.

My low energy could also be due to fear. Fear baffles me. How is it possible that I can have a crackerjack team that is well prepared for the day, a track record of successful shoots behind me, and a deep, abiding faith in the loving and supportive energy of the Universe and still feel fear?

It makes absolutely no sense.

So I have stopped trying to figure it out. I simply say a little prayer and walk through it. I do not let it stop me. I say, "Yes, open the door." (See the blog post entitled Into the Mystic, dated 9/29/09)

I'm feeling better already. Another amazing tool: share your fear. It reduces it, removes its power, returns us to a calm and steady sureness, readies us to move forward.

There are a few really great acronyms for the word fear:

False Evidence Appearing Real. I like this one because it addresses the baffling nature of fear, as I just described it. It makes no sense that I would be afraid of something known to me but there it is anyway. I'm anxious. Why? This little phrase answers the question. My fear is a false interpretation of the way things are. There is actually nothing to fear. I'm creating it and I can, just as easily, let it go.

F$%& Everything And Run. This is generally what fear makes us wish we could do. It's too much! It's easier to retreat. Let the fear win. Give up. But no...

Face Everything And Rest. Rest in the truth. The truth is, I am okay. No matter what, no matter where, I am okay. The only thing to fear is fear itself.

My favourite quote comes from Eleanor Roosevelt and those of you who know me, know it: We must do the thing we think we cannot do.

So I'm going to do that today, trusting that everything will unfold exactly as it should. I'm feeling the fear and doing it anyway. (Thank you Susan Jeffers for the best title of a book ever.) I'm going forth with strength, continuing to cultivate my courage one day at a time.

Guess what? My energy is back. Thanks, readers!

Inspiring Message for the Day: Share your fear. Remove its power. Ask for courage and step into the adventure of your life!