FEAR! To what extent does fear rule your life? How is fear controlling or motivating you? Bring up the topic and watch people react. Our lives incorporate so many beliefs about fear- reinforced by what we tell ourselves and what we hear from others. Is it any wonder that finding peace and serenity becomes such a challenge within a strong climate of negativity?

Does fear have any positive value? Yes! Alerting us to danger, exercising discernment to insure safety, and weighing the consequences to impulsive actions. Fear can be a motivating energy for action and change. When fear is allowed to control the quality of our lives, then we have a problem. So, to what extent DOES fear rule your life? Exploring your fears in greater depth can be revealing in helping you to understand yourself better. Shifting perception and taking action is evolutionary. In my coaching practice, the energy of fear repeatedly emerges when clients envision (anticipate) change in their lives and literally take steps to bring those changes into reality. Familiarity fosters comfort and safety; therefore change can be perceived as both frightening and threatening,

Recognizing some of the subtleties of fear takes a bit of detective work. A master of disguise, some of the forms of fear include: procrastination (with the purpose of delaying action), the NEED to be in control, anger (can be a cover for other emotions especially helplessness or powerlessness), isolation, induced illness, rationalizing, blaming etc. Getting UNDER the reaction unveils the fear. Working with people has given me innumerable opportunities to witness ways to transform fear.

One of my coaching clients was feeling stuck and overwhelmed. He felt he had made real progress over the years both personally and professionally. He realized he continually came to a point and went no farther. He felt a duality inside. One part of him yearned to take a leap, the other part convinced him it didn