Dwight Edwards
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela
We are all fear-afflicted people. Everyone of us. We are all uniquely neurotic. Everyone of us. And all this says about us is that we are human. Nothing more, nothing less. The older I become I find that my fears do not subside or cease; they just play musical chairs within. New fears replace older ones and even older ones reappear to take the place of newer ones!
Therefore the issue is not being afraid; it’s what we do with the assorted fears that seek to immobilize and control us. Nelson Mandela wrote concerning this in describing his years in prison in South Africa, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” According to the biblical account, among the very first words man uttered to God were, “…and I was afraid…” Fear is part and parcel of every person’s makeup since the dawn of time. And because of this, one of the greatest dangers facing all of us is that of spending our few days on this planet as human puppets, unwittingly but powerfully controlled by the strings of our own, unique phobias. And as long as our fears are what jerk us back and forth across the stage of life, we will never be free to offer to this world what is most deeply and passionately alive within.
The crucial, non-negotiable first step toward overcoming this is the ruthlessly honest admission of the fears we face. No matter how silly they might seem. Or terrifying. Or overwhelming. True, there is more to overcoming them than just admitting them. But none of us can even begin to start moving towards first base in overcoming our anxieties without learning to look them square in the face, call them by name, and then begin moving past them. One specific fear at a time.
About Dwight
Dwight is a best-selling author, popular motivational speaker, former tennis professional, and the senior pastor of Woodsedge Community Church/Houston. He has spoken thoughout the U.S. and in may parts of the world for the last 30 years. Dwight summarizes his reason for writing these weekly columns, ” I have a passion for communicating the life-changing message of how ordinary people can live extraordinary lives. I love inspiring individuals to develop peak performance in their daily lives, to find the courage to follow their dreams, and to reject the “vanilla” life that we all tend to fall into from time to time. Over the years of speaking to many organizations and people, I have become convinced that we all need ongoing input for inspiration and motivation. These weekly columns are devoted to this very need.” We believe you will enjoy and be enriched by his thoughts.
For more about Dwight please visit www.highoctaneforthemind.com
