By Sabriya Dobbins, Founder of Project Passport

When you look up the word “fear” in the dictionary, it is defined as “an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.” Well, how do you determine danger from illusion? If someone is coming after you with a knife, you would obviously assume danger. If the same knife was in your hand as you chopped tomatoes, you would be assured there is no need to fear the knife as you prepare dinner. The same object placed in different scenarios evoke either fear or comfort.

Sweaty palms, a racing heart, unnerved stomach. All culprits stemming from fear. One could go far enough to even say that fear is as tangible as it is psychological. It is so powerful that it has the ability to stop us in our tracks no matter what we are doing. Fear has the power to change your personality as you may react in retraction or aggression. Yet, it also has the power to eliminate who you are and what you stand for. It snatches your purpose and squeezes the life out of you. It has many victims with no specific profiles. On its list is every single person walking the earth.

Naturally as humans, we look to shy away from discomfort. If we feel fear, we feel discomfort, so the normal response is to rebel or rescind. However, time and time again, we end up disappointed in ourselves to reach the next fear obstacle and react in the same way.  You know the phrase, “You have won the battle but not the war?” That is exactly what you do as fear slowly eats away at your future, attempting to win the shared war.

The only way to begin to turn the odds in your favor is to participate in the discomfort of fear. Every single thing you fight against or avoid because you are afraid, you must do. There is no guarantee that you will have the outcome you hoped for but that battle with fear is won. Fear is simply working hard to create absence between you and the desires in your life. Even if you don’t get what you want out of a situation, fear is no longer in the equation if you attempt to reach the desire. And the best part is that as long as you are alive, you have the time to keep reaching for the same desire and stomping fear with each leap.

A few examples of people winning the war against fear: Oprah Winfrey, Brené Brown, Michael Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio and so many more. That’s not to say they have not lost battles. They are all big names but they were all where you were mentally at one point in their lives. They continue to fight their individual fear battles every single day. The words “I tried” ring a lot louder than the words “I wish I had.” So, make it your personal mission to hold hands with discomfort. Reach out and shake fear’s hand as it takes its millionth loss in battle. Every single thing you fear is exactly what you need to do.

The difference between danger and illusion? Danger is a likely outcome of discomfort while illusion [of fear] is something that can result in an amazing outcome despite the risks involved.

What will you do today to overcome fear?

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Project Passport is a mental empowerment retreat and event company created to help women connect with one another and gain the tools to improve their lives in the best way possible. Each retreat experience has a unique theme with carefully designed activities to help participants grow and experience transformation. We are making mental wellness the norm, one retreat at a time. Learn more at project-passport.com.