[mluiten]

Fears are a strange bunch. I have only recently really become aware of my own fears, and now that I see them for what they are (most of the time). Even being aware of your fears seems to be quite rare. Let alone be commited to facing them instead of making up alibis and creating their own state of limbo.

Recently, I have starting 'fighting' my fears by noticing them in the first place ("Why dont I call X/do Y/commit to Z"), then by asking myself: "Why am I fearing X?". Most of the times it is some irrational thought about rejection, failure, lack of money, even success ("If I do it, I'm commited and dont have time for all the other things I'm afraid to do"). It's all bullcrap. 9 out of 10 times, when you do the thing you fear, it does not pan out the way you imagined, and the other time it teaches you something invaluable. I'm starting to think that by framing every thought you have in the most positive way and by closing your mind from negative influences from others AND YOURSELF, you can conquer any fear. I think this is closely related to the authors point: your self-worth should have nothing to do with what other people think of you and/or how your enterprises turn out. You and you alone control your mind/thoughts, and therefor your happiness. If you fearlessly and with 'passion' do the things that you think are right, make and learn from mistakes, truly believe in and commit to your goal, then congratulate yourself. You're already doing more than almost all of the people I know.