One of the benefits of being a coach is the existence of a “reality” mirror. This morning as I sat thinking of my clients and planning the week – I recalled an article I wrote over 13 years ago.
When I say “coach” – I mean every person who is ever aware of the processes you follow – because ultimately each of us is our own coach – and you are responsible for our your own action or inaction.
This article below was important to me for years and helped me to success. You are welcome to borrow the metaphor and use it any time you feel fear, or an inner discomfort that is a signal that there is a very fierce (but imaginary) lion stalking you. And once you remember that it was YOU that imagined this lion into existence – first the cheeky grin, THEN the pulling of his beard!
Enjoy this article:
Beard your lions…
Who do you serve – your fears or your desires?
Check yourself hourly to find out the motives for your actions – is the motive one of fear?
If you act because you are afraid, and focus on acting to avoid some event (that you are focusing on and rehearsing in your mind), you will never have peace.
An example of this might perhaps be you are walking down a street and you see a face in the crowd that you have not seen for decades.
You have a choice – pretend not to have seen, or wave and acknowledgement and spend a few moments to catch up. If you lower your eyes, or pretend to look in a store window – you are acting out of fear.
Such actions reinforce themselves on you, and weaken your power.
Perhaps your fear is some report you have been avoiding – or doing some paperwork (like a Will or tax returns). Perhaps it is making contact with a once close friend or relative that you are out of touch with – and are hesitant for fear of rejection. Perhaps it is returning a phone call that could potentially be a bit messy.
You must walk up to the things you are afraid of (your lions). If you run away, your fears (lions) will chase you.
The lion takes it’s fierceness from feeding on your fear.
Walk up to your lion, facing your fears, and they will disappear.
Just for today…
So as this day passes, when moments of choice appear, choose not to act by fear motive, but instead act in the faith that each event comes for your eventual personal benefit, and you find an immediate boost in your enjoyment of life.
Walk up to your every lion, give a cheeky grin – and PULL HIS BEARD!
Jim
Copyright James Hooper March 7, 1999.