Beating the Fears

Zen Habits, always the helpful source of noble truths, has posted a handy guide to beating the fears that tend to hold us back.

Leo Babauta posits that most fears have their genesis in yet another fear – the fear of not being good enough. Babauta explains that in his life, the fear of not being good enough was sufficient to keep him from even trying.

That’s a bit of a head-scratcher to me. I grasp the idea that a lot of folks have issues relating to self-confidence or self-image that make it difficult for them to take risks because of the threat of repeated disappointments, and being constantly beaten down certainly makes it harder to rise up.

But the concept that the other fears Babauta lists – rejection, intimacy, success, going broke – are somehow inescapably entwined with the fear of not being good enough seems improbable.

They may all follow a common thread, and it’s possible the if you have repeated failures, rejections, or break-ups, that you may decide to stop trying, I’m not certain the linkage remains solely around not being good enough. That’s painting lack of success with a mighty broad brush.

Again, the lesson I take from this article is one of compassion for oneself. No one is perfect – even the best ball players only hit .300. So don’t be surprised by failure, and most certainly don’t be afraid of it, as it happens statistically more frequently than success.

We have nothing to fear but fear itself. And bears.

A Guide to Beating the Fears That Are Holding You Back