Making Fear An Opportunity For Change

How we face adversity says a lot about who we are, both as individuals and then as a whole. Have you noticed how some people really rise to the occasion when something serious happens? It can be as devastating as a catastrophe or a short-term challenge. Some people look at these moments as opportunities instead of negativities. They face the fear and turn it around and make it work for them.

Some fears can have a debilitating effect on some people. My oldest daughter has battled a panic disorder for many years. I am impressed by how she deals with it. Sometimes, it does get the better of her, but usually, she’s the one on top. She has made adjustments to make her life as normal as possible, such as shopping at non-peak times and taking her medications. She takes each day and works to make it her own. It’s not easy and her battles can sometimes be moment by moment, but she battles, nevertheless. She faces her adversity and refuses to let it beat her.

We all know people who look adversity in the eye and stare it down. Moments of weakness are inevitable, but setting your resolve to make it positive, gives you the energy, momentum, and creativity to breathe new life into it and turn it from fear to advantage. We all have things we want to turn into an advantage. Identifying is the first step. Second step is to imagine it changed into something good. Third, develop and action plan. What might it take to achieve it? Four, take each line item and break it down further, until it’s something that can be handles one small thing at a time.

It’s like learning to read. You learn the alphabet first, then come the sounds, and soon the letters are connected into words and words into sentences. Wow, what was so hard became so wonderful.

Don’t be afraid of trying or failing. Don’t be afraid of what others may think. Success at anything means taking chances, overcoming those fears and seeing them as opportunities and advantages.