Anyone that has experienced worry or anxiety may never think of setting it as a goal to be free from it, but this is what in my opinion you must do.

I once heard a quote from Jim Rohn, a famous motivational speaker, which had a deep impact on me. “Don’t set a goal to be successful just to be successful, set a goal to be successful for the person that it will make off you to achieve it.”

So don’t set a goal to be free from worry and anxiety, just to be free from worry and anxiety. Set a goal to be free from worry and anxiety for the growth in character that you will experience. So that you first hand understand the shift that takes place.

You can’t just wish anxiety away; you must actively work towards achieving that goal. All fear has a source, and if you run from it or deny it, then you will never overcome it.

Wall of Fear

Fear is the main obstacle in life, and it comes in many forms. Fear is what pushes most people back, keeping them locked in a place they cannot escape. But, if you don’t push yourself through what you fear, you will never fulfil your true potential.

One of my favourite quotes is by Marianne Williamson, who once said,

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.”

Deep down within us, we know what we are capable of. We have unique talents and abilities, but rather than share them with the world; we hide behind our fears.

Fears grow because we feed them. For example, Let say you are afraid of social situations; you feel intense anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected.

That may cause you to avoid social situations, but this will only cause fear or anxiety to get worse. Remember, ‘you are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.’

A few years ago, I suffered intense anxiety which shook me to my core. Until that point, I thought anxiety was something that could be overcome easily, but I was mistaken.

There were moments I thought I might never recover, but I never gave a voice to them fearful thoughts. I spoke words of faith. Saying things like, ‘I will do whatever it takes to overcome this anxiety.’ There is power in the spoken word.

Rather than let fear win, I set a goal to do whatever it took to overcome the anxiety. That decision brought me on a journey of discovery.

In the end, it took a combination of methods to overcome. It took discipline to apply the techniques instead of just panicking. But it was worth it. My search led me to ETF tapping, a technique that helped me greatly.

Within two weeks, the anxiety had subsided noticeably, giving me the feeling that I was in control. Within a couple of months, the intense fear was gone.

The experience changed me; it made me more grateful for everything. I became more humble and less stressed. All the little things that annoyed me in the past seemed insignificant.

I learnt so much. I learnt the power of a walk in nature, the birds singing and the sound of a stream.

I wouldn’t wish what I went through on my worst enemy but it made me a better person, it increased my faith, my compassion, and it made me more patient with others.

Facing your fears is not easy; I will tell you straight. Sometimes prayer alone will not work; you will need to put action behind your faith. You will need to consistently and persistently do what is necessary.

The good news is… when you face your fears, the real reward is the person that you will become. A more influential, healthier, wiser person that is more connected to the world around you. Someone more compassionate, empathic and loving towards others. Someone that is a step closer to God.

Decide to face a fear today and witness the difference that it will make.

Philippians 4: 6-7 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything , but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, presents your requests to GOD, And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.