As most of you know... I had a rather serious Oprah obsession her last season... Why? Well, I'm also asking myself that same question, but as my dear friend Betty always says, "It just felt right." Everyday I sat in awe of how she had a way to make you feel that you could really do anything that you set your mind too! Change your life for the better, even in the most dire circumstances. That you were worth so much more than you could dream yourself to be.
Tonight, It happened yet again. I found myself watching a silly little Oprah interview... The difference, she was the one being interviewed. As they were asking her a question about moving on to the next chapter of the OWN network, she begins to tell the story of how she would wake up panicking about wether this would be something she could handle or not. The next morning she woke up and asked herself a very Oprah"ie" question..... "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" As she answered she was like well, of course I would start my own network, I could have a different inspiring platform, a new place to encourage. The catch, IF I weren't afraid. As only Oprah would say; "So I pretended I wasn't afraid!"
Fear can be silly... I mean, I'm afraid of animated creature things in disneyland rides, and haunted corn mazes! Like for real?? But what happens when fear is debilitating? When it makes you feel worthless, dumb and not good enough? I find myself facing fear everyday... "What if I really run after my singing dream and I get laughed at, made fun of?? Do you know how many GREAT singers are out there!! That is PETRIFYING! Why in entire world would I set myself up for failure? But isn't that just it, its scary to be venerable and not accepted. New jobs, new schools, new church's... It all can be scary can't it! And if its not new, well, that would be a little thing I'm AWFUL at, "change" anyone?????
We all do it! We stay in relationships we shouldn't because thats easier! We are people pleasures to the extreme! We don't go after that job promotion that we have always wanted because of this or that! I think it all stems from the same place, fear. Wether its fear of being alone or moving forward to something better it can all be unnerving and terrifying. I think fear is sometimes married to insecurity. It is so easy to keep ourselves in the safeness of what we know because then we can't get hurt, embarrassed or feel antiquate.
It's so hard to wrap our heads around fear and the power that it has on us. I believe that no one wants to look like a failure or be embarrassed, but what if God has called us to face our fears to have better more fulfilled lives? I will have to cling to the promise of:
Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future!"
And Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my right hand.
This is something that I am SOOOOO challenged by because fear of failure and my other insecurities play a huge part in my daily life, but after this question I don't want fear to dictate what I can do, go, or be!! I know and believe that God has called me to something much better, but I'm going to have to start facing my fears to get there!!! Oh boy! I'm scared! haha
My question to you..... What would you do if you weren't afraid?
Kristin
P.s Since I'm probably only gonna write one, I had to make it a novel! ha
