Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Conquering Your Fear by Reba J. Hoffman, Ph.D.

Reba & Dakota preparing to depart.
I see it almost daily. Really talented writers pour their heart and soul into creating a magnificent story that is sure to change the lives of their readers. They edit, chop, start over and still it never seems good enough.

They pay good money to attend a writer’s conference and just at the second they get their opportunity to pitch their story to their dream agent, they turn and run the other way. Why?

Fear.

Toccoa Falls, Georgia
As I’m writing this, I’m pedaling alone on my bicycle around America to meet women who are plagued by fear. Perhaps they don’t have the fear of agents but they are held captive in their own hearts and life circumstances. Here are some things I’ve learned from them:

Fear will always win unless you do. It’s a battle, but you have the power to win it. If you forfeit the battle, it will be crowned the undisputed champion.

Fear has no power unless you give it. Fear is an intangible emotion that really cannot reign over you without you giving it permission.

Fear is necessary. It gears you up emotionally to face that situation you’re uncomfortable in, like pitching your story to a publishing editor. You really should capture its energy and use it to move you forward toward your goal.

Fear always shows up. Always. Expect it. Recognize it. Put it in its place and use it for your good. Yes, you have that power over the fear in your life.

Fear always subsides. Whether you feel the fear and do it anyway, or turn and run for cover, that yucky feeling in the pit of your stomach will go away. So, if it’s going to show up and it’s going to leave, why not use it for your gain?

Entering Georgia
You—yes, even the most mild mannered, shy, introverted wordsmith—can conquer fear. Sound impossible? It’s not. You can harness that fear and cause it to work FOR you. It can propel you forward toward your goal.

Look, you already have the writing part down. You do it very well. So why not take the time to fear as your friend, rather than your foe? Or if not, at least get comfortable being uncomfortable when fear shows up?

Most people feel the fear and hide. But you can be like a dam that harnesses the raw power of the water and converts it to energy and electricity. You can use its power to accomplish great and mighty things.

I encourage you today to look at fear in a different light, for your good. Your readers will appreciate that more than you know. They need to read what you spend so much time creating.

Trust me on this one!

What is the one thing that scares you more than anything? How has fear stopped you from reaching your dreams? Would you mind taking the first step in conquering that fear by posting it in the comments below?

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Fear will always win unless you do. Click to Tweet
Fear has no power unless you give it permission. Click to Tweet
You can harness the raw power of fear and convert it to energy. Click to Tweet
About the Author
Reba Hoffman giving a
newspaper interview during
her trip
Reba J. Hoffman is a natural encourager and Member Care Coach at My Book Therapy. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is currently riding her bicycle across America to help women with PTSD. She is the author of Facing Fear and Finding Freedom, available on Amazon, and Dare to Dream, a Writer’s Journal published by My Book Therapy. She also publishes a motivational and encouraging blog, Finding True North. Contact Reba at reba@rebajhoffman.com.

On November 5, 1984, Reba was abducted in broad daylight from a parking lot by a drug-crazed criminal. He’d been out of jail for less than twenty four hours. She was beaten, raped and left for dead in a remote area of North Florida. By God’s grace She survived that attack.

The broken bones healed but Reba suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Fortunately, she had a great medical/mental health team and was able to recover. Sadly, that’s not the case with so many women who survive violent assaults. Many are imprisoned in their homes. If they do venture out, they experience anxiety and panic.

Today, Reba is traveling across America on her trusty bike, Dakota, meeting with groups and speaking about PTSD. Her goal is to help liberate women all over the country. For more information, or if you'd like to help, click here.