Living Audaciously in the Face of Fear

If you’ve joined me for the 5 Day Design Your Dream Life Challenge, then you know we talked about fear today while talking about obstacles (if you aren’t in on that challenge, you can still sign up!)

Fear and anxiety can be one of the biggest obstacles people face; after all, anxiety is one of the number one Mental Health issues in the nation.

And, as a Mental Health Pro, it’s a bit taboo to talk about my personal anxiety or depression or whatever. But – and I know I’m not alone in writing this – even I deal with anxiety. Often. And, often I find it overwhelming.

Are you surprised to read these words from a therapist? Guess what, we’re human too.

Despite this anxiety or times of fear, we can still live audaciously. 

We all encounter 3 big fears in our lives, 3 fears that often become obstacles for the dream life we want to have, the career we know we want, the family/marriage we desire, the skills we want to learn or the training we want to get.

3 Big Fears that get in the way of so much, because they speak to some of our deepest desires and stressors:

• Failure – we get paralyzed, unable to even start or move forward, because what if…what if we fail. What if we get knocked down. What if our idea doesn’t work, we don’t get that promotion, you aren’t a good parent, etc. What if…What if…Honestly, that what if? is not reality. Reality is what is…what is right in front of you. What is happening right now in your life.
• Judgement – we get worried about the thoughts and words of others. Maybe they won’t understand or approve of this business I’m starting. Maybe they won’t like that I choose a lower paying career in community mental health instead of a thriving 100,000 practice. Maybe they will be intimidated by my success. Maybe they will feel bad about themselves if I do well and they won’t. My friend, you are under no obligation to make yourself smaller just because it will make others feel better. In fact, you rob the world when you do that.
• Success – that’s right. We may actually fear success. We fear the responsibility, we fear the expectations, we fear falling short (see fear 1), we fear others’ responses (see fear 2). We worry we won’t be able to cut it.

This fear can be present for any of us at any time. It’s up to us to cow-tow to them, or to live audaciously in spite of them.

I have been more than honest on my personal blog about my struggles with depression & anxiety & fear over the years. So, what gives me the right to talk about living audaciously in spite of fear?

Because, I have absolutely done it. I do it. Every day. Even on hard days. Even on days I fall short (and they are often). Because I have learned how to actually live audaciously in the face of fear:

Because, living audaciously in the face of fear, in the face of anxiety, means we get up each day. And, if we can’t one day, we do it the next.
Living audaciously in the face of fear means being brutally honest about the state of your heart and soul: honest with God, honest with yourself, and honest with others.
Living audaciously in the face of fear means putting on a brave face when you need to & when you don’t need it, you put it away.
Living audaciously in face of fear means stepping out in faith even when voices around you say no, even when you don’t see a safety net, even if you step out alone.
Living audaciously in the face of fear means moving & growing, even while being honest that the state of your soul may not be where it needs to be.
Living audaciously in the face of fear means acknowledging your progress, even if no one around you can see it or understand it.

Maybe this list has helped you discover that you are living audaciously in the face of fear. Bravo! I am so glad.

Maybe it has inspired you to begin to live this way. Fantastic! I love it.

For those that still need the reminder that you are already living audaciously in the face of fear everyday:

• If you are a single mom or dad working two jobs to live in a great neighborhood so your kids can go to a great school, you are living audaciously in the face of fear.
• If you are starting your own business even though the people around you think it’s foolish or aren’t understanding what you’re doing. If they are telling you that you need to grow up and get a real job, you are living audaciously in the face of fear.
• If you wake up every morning, fighting a battle no one knows anything about. If you’ve got a medical or mental illness that’s chronic or terminal, and you still get up to take care of your family, you are living audaciously in the face of fear.
• If you have a loved one who is terminally or chronically ill, and you take care of them while still living a good life & being loving and giving and joyful, you are living audaciously in the face of fear.
• If you decide that you are going to go back to school and spend your time and money trying to better yourself and work toward a life you’ve dreamed of, you are living audaciously in the face of fear.
• If you want to live the tiny, minimal life, and people around you are telling you that it’s too small and goes against the norm; that it isn’t enough space for one, two, or a family. Yet you, or you and your partner, or you and your partner and your 5 kids and your 200lb St. Bernard are living a tiny life you love, you are living audaciously in the face of fear.
• If you’ve decided to leave a “normal day job” to go be a missionary in Africa, or Peru, or a college campus in the middle of no where Kansas, and people around you are wondering why you’re asking so much for people to support God’s mission and they are asking why you don’t get a “real preaching job”. And, they are wondering if you’re even going to make a difference in these places that are desolate and desperate and crying for hope. You my friend, are living audaciously in the face of fear.

And, when we live audaciously in the face of fear, no one can take it away from us.

So how do we live audaciously in the face of fear? We just do it. We recognize what we want and we make it a reality. And, we don’t do it by harming other people, that isn’t living audaciously in the face of fear, that is living recklessly and erroneously in the face of fear and that isn’t good for anyone. But, living audaciously in the face of fear, that is fantastic for everybody.

And, this is something we need to do to make this world a better place – live audaciously in the face of fear, and in doing so:
Love those around you fiercely.
Don’t give up on your dreams, encouraging those around you not to give up on theirs.
Know that with every step, if you’re putting your faith in God, He will be there to catch you even if you fall.
Knowing you may be struggling right now, seeing no way out of the pit you have dug yourself into. It might be 12 feet deep in the ground, but you’re going to wake up, be thankful for what you have, and keep going.

You will have those dreams you want to have. And, you will do what is best for you, your family, and your community.

And that is living audaciously in the face of fear, and that makes you a warrior!

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By the way: I have some spots open. Ladies, if you want to begin living audaciously in the face of fear, and you want someone to come along side of you in doing so, offering encouragement, empowerment, and accountability, hop on a 20 minute free coaching call with me! We’ll get you going 🙂 Click here to get on a call with me.