Wrestling with Fear

Photo by CathyK/stockxchng.com

"Anything I've ever done that was ultimately worthwhile ... initially scared me to death."

~Betty Bender, motivational speaker

Fear and me--we used to be good friends. I spent much too much time hanging out with fear. I let fear speak up for me on too many occasions.

Did I want to play volleyball with my friends? Umm, that would be a no because I was afraid I'd look like an uncoordinated klutz.

Did I want to try scuba diving? Pass.

Rock climbing? No, thanks.

I finally had to wrestle fear to the ground until it cried "Uncle" and gave up. You're still not going to catch me skydiving. I've no desire to jump out of a perfectly good airplane--at least not yet. But I've gone para-sailing. And snorkeling. And rappelling--even if I did laugh the whole way down the rock face and my instructor knew I didn't hear a word he said.

So, what about you? What scares you to death? What fear have you conquered--and was it worth your while?