Story time: ......scared to death? Have you ever been so afraid that life doesn't seem like you can survive.....
Fear is a very real thing, and I would love to hear your thoughts on it... What gets to you, we have all heard the fear of public speaking is one of the most common things to haunt people, but it is just one of the many things people run from......
Every person has experienced fear at one time or another, some are justified and others are just tricks of the mind. I learned this lesson as a young man through sports, let me explain. I grew up on a small farm a couple of miles from a small town, (population 1,054). When we left the farm, we had to drive 18 miles to see a traffic light, and it just flashed. If you wanted to see a working traffic light that was another 7 miles in the next town. I have seen a lot of folks grow up rural like I did and have a fear of the outside world. One such example was seen in sports.
Cape Girardeau was the big city to us (population 35,000) about 30 miles away. As a coach I remember my team playing them and being intimidated, scared of the larger town's team. Then I was asked to coach a team in the "big city" which enabled me to understand fear.
I was honored to coach the team it let me compete against better competition and learn a little about myself along the way. One eye opening moment came when we played in a St. Louis tournament. We had a very good team, but during our first game in the tournament something about our team seemed off.....
A conversation in the dugout that day is one I will never forget, talking to a few of the players trying to figure out what was wrong, one of the players admitted to being scared. - I was stunned, and wanted to know why and scared of what? The boy's answer was he was afraid of the team we were playing because they were a St. Louis team.....
My response was, - scared, how can you be scared you are on a Cape team. I didn't fear St. Louis teams, because Cape was so much better than where I came from, I felt we could take on any team in the world! That was when the realization hit that most people have a fear of the unknown, often with feelings of an imposter when confronted with competition from larger foe.
One of the worst things about fear is when folks allow it to overwhelm them, limiting the scope and depth of their lives.... What may even be worse is when adults project their fears upon their children.....thus limiting their children's futures......
I have seen a single class or course in school alter a student's entire life. One bad, grade....which created fear let a student talk themselves into giving up on their dream. If I could talk to that student (anyone facing a similar issue) I would share this story I know a senior in college about to graduate with a degree in engineering. The engineering student has excellent grades, but early in his college career he struggled in a high-level math course. There were other students that struggled, a few of which gave up, saying they must not be smart enough....that "gatekeeper" course crushed their dreams and altered their career path forever.
The student I know took the class a second time, with a different instructor, this time he finished with a grade near 100%..... He said that the second PhD taught the class in a way that made it so much easier, with a teaching style that was effective and enjoyable.
Fear could have crushed a dream.....but if you approach life with the attitude that you are a "CAPE" team and capable of taking on the world fear will never be the enemy that defeats you!
So, what is your fear? Did you face, or did it crush you? Did you try again....or was it a one and done for your life's dream? All good questions, but I have a better one - What have you done to help someone you know to conquer or overcome their fear? Have you ever considered if you just take the time to listen, offering a sounding board, or maybe words of encouragement a fear could be defeated...... Be from Cape -take on the world!!!
