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Facing Your Fears…

Posted By: Randy GageJuly 7, 2010

I remember the first time I went to Croatia. The civil war was still going on and I had some fear about visiting, but went anyway.  And was so glad I did.  What wonderful people and a beautiful place.  

The first time I went to Germany, I was really nervous.  I know enough Spanish and French to get by, but German I knew less than ten words.  Now I can’t wait to go to Cologne, Germany with my softball team next month.

The first time I went to Australia, the person who was supposed to pick me up at the airport never showed up.  I hadn’t even bothered to get the name of the hotel I was speaking at, because I was expecting to be met.  I had no Aussie currency and couldn’t figure out how to use the phone.  Ended up getting help from a car rental clerk.  And fell so in love with the country that I now have an apartment there.

I remember the first time I worked with a translator, the first time I landed in Asia, the first time I spoke to an audience of 5,000 people.  I think back about the first time I went into the studio to record an album, and when I sat down with a blank notebook to write a book.

In fact, there are of hundreds of things I did that had me
nervous, anxious, or downright scared.  But I did them, and now enjoy the greatest job in the world.  I love what I do, and look forward to it every day.  But that came from leaving a comfort zone.

And that’s where the payoff comes in...

The more fears you are willing to challenge, the greater the rewards you receive.

So where is your comfort zone today?  How much has it grown in the last two years?  And more importantly, what are you going to do to grow it today?

Please share your answers below.  I’m off on another around the world tour.  Look forward to seeing some of you in the first stop, Barcelona.

- RG

P.S.  If you’re one of the people that inquired about personal coaching from me, be sure to see the announcement in yesterday’s post here.

14 comments on “Facing Your Fears…”

  1. I remember a challenge I gave myself, "What is something I wish I could do or that I want to do...but am scared to do. As part of an infotainment speaking team, I am envious of my colleagues who can sing parody rock songs onstage. I just don't have the voice that you would PAY to hear. So, what I did was hire a composer to create for me a hip-hop track that was in my vocal range. I practiced and practiced and then did my fake Enimem parody song in front of about a thousand people. It rocked. It wasn't great, but it was intentionally funny...and I got to achieve my goal. I pushed through the fear, got creative, and just did it!

  2. Hi Randy;

    Looks like I'm the first to write a comment on this post, and the first thing that comes to mind when talking about fear is the programming I ingrained being brought up with an alcoholic parent.

    There is so much work that I needed to do to release the patterns. As one grows and matures we can see that the the possibilities are endless if we only allow ourselves to be open to them.

    To this day there are certain things my inner child reacts to with fear, the only difference is that I now have the tools to deal with them.

    I don't think we can completely eradicate fear from our lives, a healthy dose is our ally, but knowing when to act and not react is my goal.

    Have a great trip.
    Thanks for the work you do.
    Olga

    1. I am reading on a great on children of alcoholic parents.--
      "Women Who Love Too Much" by Robin Norwood.

  3. Good morning Randy. I miss so much hearing you speak in person. You always strike a cord with me. I may not be doing any mlm right now but you have helped me work stuff out so that I am no longer crippled by fear. You and the book The Magic of Thinking Big. All you can do with fear is face it, and work through it. Thank you so much for all your help. My opera company is going full steam ahead now. Am I scared? Of course! But I have a team of people around me now that won't let me quit or let fear paralyze me. The next time you're going to be in Denver, let me know, I would love to see you and catch up.

    Much love to you my friend,

    Lucinda (The Opera-Diva)

    Genvera Director- Lyric Opera of Aurora

  4. So incredibly true....We grow the most when we challenge our fears and become stagnant when we strictly stay within our comfort zones. Knowing that doesn't always make it easier though!

    "Life Begins at the end of your comfort zone" - Neale Donald Walsh

  5. Great post Randy on real life examples of getting out of your comfort zone and adapting... and growing. In my first sales job years ago I took a class where they passed out a little booklet I still keep to this day because it has a saying in it that has always stuck with me. "Successful people do the things that unsuccessful people won't do".

    RJ

  6. Wow...Randy. I know you encounter this often, but this post is one of those things that is perfectly timed TO THE DAY for something I need help with in my own life right now....stepping out of the comfort zone.

    Realizing now I've basically been in the same place (mentally maybe not....but in reality...yes) for a couple years and it's making me sick.

    Nothing catastrophic like I'm sure many of your readers are experiencing, but the LACK of what COULD be is the catastrophe...

    Thanks so much.

    Jason

  7. Hey Randy, have you seen Time Burton's "Alice in Wonderland"? It has great messages about acting in spite of fear. One of the main themes is 'Only you can be the Champion of your Dream'. It parralells some things in Iron Man; taking reponsibility for your effect on the world, standing up to those who think they know what's best for you, breaking through where others think it can't be done (even where you thought it couldn't be done).
    Seeing the world through it's possibilties instead of it's limitations is sometimes a 'down the rabbit hole' experience.

    1. I bought it but haven't see it yet. Maybe it'll be on one f my planes this trip, or else when I get back from the tour. After I want A-Team of course! 🙂

      -RG

  8. Fear is the sudden feeling we get when we are about to experience something for which we have no frame of reference.
    If we could conquer our limiting thoughts and convince ourselves that we could truly do anything...what would fear do then?
    Run for the hills, me thinks...

    Great post
    MS

  9. There is a lot of work on how to deal with your 'monkey brain' or the Amygdala. Noticing its constant chatter is the first step. Once you do you will likely notice its commitments are different than yours and yet you will do whatever it tells you to do ... and until you notice it you have little choice to do otherwise. How to put it useful work ... there are books to read, courses to take and none of it works until you are 'willing' to expand your comfort zone.

    If you are interested in exploding it sell or give away everything you own except what you can fit into your luggage on two airline flights. Move to a new country where you don't know the language and have only met one person who lives there before you arrive. Start with a three month visa. Do what it takes to live there forever. It takes about 4 years to get permanent residency. You can have whatever you wish for.

  10. Good questions Randy and I notice that even after a few days not many people have posted. I've done a lot of work on expanding my comfort zone over the past two years but I've noticed that I've slowed down in the past few months. A couple of years ago I quit my job (didn't like it any more anyway), sold my house, (kinda was forced to due to divorce!) and then travelled overseas to 12 countries solo for 7 months. It forced me to be in situations I normally wouldn't find myself in. I met a heap of people, saw stacks of places, stayed in people's homes that I met on the internet and drove through many countries, (with the steering wheel on the other side of the car). Now I'm in a job that I actually really enjoy, but that I have to admit has been quite stressful of late. It does however hold huge potential for me to test myself and grow. If I won lotto I would still keep showing up for work there. I just notice that sometimes I'm happy to stay holed up in my office and go back to doing the more basic tasks I did in my last job when really there are much bigger tasks that I could take on. I get some informal career coaching from a mentor who thankfully gives me a much needed nudge now and then, (like he did this week!). I appreciate those people in my life so much.

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  • 14 comments on “Facing Your Fears…”

    1. I remember a challenge I gave myself, "What is something I wish I could do or that I want to do...but am scared to do. As part of an infotainment speaking team, I am envious of my colleagues who can sing parody rock songs onstage. I just don't have the voice that you would PAY to hear. So, what I did was hire a composer to create for me a hip-hop track that was in my vocal range. I practiced and practiced and then did my fake Enimem parody song in front of about a thousand people. It rocked. It wasn't great, but it was intentionally funny...and I got to achieve my goal. I pushed through the fear, got creative, and just did it!

    2. Hi Randy;

      Looks like I'm the first to write a comment on this post, and the first thing that comes to mind when talking about fear is the programming I ingrained being brought up with an alcoholic parent.

      There is so much work that I needed to do to release the patterns. As one grows and matures we can see that the the possibilities are endless if we only allow ourselves to be open to them.

      To this day there are certain things my inner child reacts to with fear, the only difference is that I now have the tools to deal with them.

      I don't think we can completely eradicate fear from our lives, a healthy dose is our ally, but knowing when to act and not react is my goal.

      Have a great trip.
      Thanks for the work you do.
      Olga

      1. I am reading on a great on children of alcoholic parents.--
        "Women Who Love Too Much" by Robin Norwood.

    3. Good morning Randy. I miss so much hearing you speak in person. You always strike a cord with me. I may not be doing any mlm right now but you have helped me work stuff out so that I am no longer crippled by fear. You and the book The Magic of Thinking Big. All you can do with fear is face it, and work through it. Thank you so much for all your help. My opera company is going full steam ahead now. Am I scared? Of course! But I have a team of people around me now that won't let me quit or let fear paralyze me. The next time you're going to be in Denver, let me know, I would love to see you and catch up.

      Much love to you my friend,

      Lucinda (The Opera-Diva)

      Genvera Director- Lyric Opera of Aurora

    4. So incredibly true....We grow the most when we challenge our fears and become stagnant when we strictly stay within our comfort zones. Knowing that doesn't always make it easier though!

      "Life Begins at the end of your comfort zone" - Neale Donald Walsh

    5. Great post Randy on real life examples of getting out of your comfort zone and adapting... and growing. In my first sales job years ago I took a class where they passed out a little booklet I still keep to this day because it has a saying in it that has always stuck with me. "Successful people do the things that unsuccessful people won't do".

      RJ

    6. Wow...Randy. I know you encounter this often, but this post is one of those things that is perfectly timed TO THE DAY for something I need help with in my own life right now....stepping out of the comfort zone.

      Realizing now I've basically been in the same place (mentally maybe not....but in reality...yes) for a couple years and it's making me sick.

      Nothing catastrophic like I'm sure many of your readers are experiencing, but the LACK of what COULD be is the catastrophe...

      Thanks so much.

      Jason

    7. Hey Randy, have you seen Time Burton's "Alice in Wonderland"? It has great messages about acting in spite of fear. One of the main themes is 'Only you can be the Champion of your Dream'. It parralells some things in Iron Man; taking reponsibility for your effect on the world, standing up to those who think they know what's best for you, breaking through where others think it can't be done (even where you thought it couldn't be done).
      Seeing the world through it's possibilties instead of it's limitations is sometimes a 'down the rabbit hole' experience.

      1. I bought it but haven't see it yet. Maybe it'll be on one f my planes this trip, or else when I get back from the tour. After I want A-Team of course! 🙂

        -RG

    8. Fear is the sudden feeling we get when we are about to experience something for which we have no frame of reference.
      If we could conquer our limiting thoughts and convince ourselves that we could truly do anything...what would fear do then?
      Run for the hills, me thinks...

      Great post
      MS

    9. There is a lot of work on how to deal with your 'monkey brain' or the Amygdala. Noticing its constant chatter is the first step. Once you do you will likely notice its commitments are different than yours and yet you will do whatever it tells you to do ... and until you notice it you have little choice to do otherwise. How to put it useful work ... there are books to read, courses to take and none of it works until you are 'willing' to expand your comfort zone.

      If you are interested in exploding it sell or give away everything you own except what you can fit into your luggage on two airline flights. Move to a new country where you don't know the language and have only met one person who lives there before you arrive. Start with a three month visa. Do what it takes to live there forever. It takes about 4 years to get permanent residency. You can have whatever you wish for.

    10. Good questions Randy and I notice that even after a few days not many people have posted. I've done a lot of work on expanding my comfort zone over the past two years but I've noticed that I've slowed down in the past few months. A couple of years ago I quit my job (didn't like it any more anyway), sold my house, (kinda was forced to due to divorce!) and then travelled overseas to 12 countries solo for 7 months. It forced me to be in situations I normally wouldn't find myself in. I met a heap of people, saw stacks of places, stayed in people's homes that I met on the internet and drove through many countries, (with the steering wheel on the other side of the car). Now I'm in a job that I actually really enjoy, but that I have to admit has been quite stressful of late. It does however hold huge potential for me to test myself and grow. If I won lotto I would still keep showing up for work there. I just notice that sometimes I'm happy to stay holed up in my office and go back to doing the more basic tasks I did in my last job when really there are much bigger tasks that I could take on. I get some informal career coaching from a mentor who thankfully gives me a much needed nudge now and then, (like he did this week!). I appreciate those people in my life so much.

    Leave a Reply to Brian Walter Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


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