Lesson 1 – I survived my greatest fear

I have never been afraid of death, scared of growing old or crazy. Not in the least. What my biggest fear was, was to be alone. To lose the man that I love. My biggest fear was to lose my companion. It scared me – this thought alone and I never thought I would survive if that dreaded day was ever to come.

It came. I survived.

For me, the greatest achievement (besides survival) was that I had been forced to face my greatest fear, my crippling and insecurity creating fear of losing this one person that I loved more than anyone on this small planet. I had to face it, I had to live it and process and understand. I survived. Suddenly that fear is no longer a fear, it had become an achievement – my victory of my greatest fear. All of a sudden I find the insecurities driven by the fear, gone. That is the true achievement.

When you face, overcome and survived your greatest fear, the inevitable conclusion to that act is growth. Personal growth. Achievement. Something new inside of you. Every day that you survive, you become someone different, someone staggeringly strong.

A broken heart, a lost job, lover, friend, family member or career opportunity – there is no fear that you cannot overcome and survive, until you are faced with it. There is no point in stressing about events that may not happen, the results of you as a person is not worth it – it causes psychological damage in huge amounts. Facing your greatest fear, is something you can only do when you have the opportunity to face it – and overcome and survive it.

The funny thing about life, and being a believer in God, I understand that time carries on. It ticks away. The seasons come and go, the moon goes through its phases of visibility and daily life continues – always. Your life, my life – it continues mercilessly. You eat when you are hungry, you sleep when you are tired and you work when you need to work. You survive.

There is a great gift wrapped in every challenge, and once you have survived the challenge – you will understand the gift. Focus on that.

A friend recited a great quote today: “My heart might be broken, but I am not”. 

You can survive anything. 

You are strong.

I am strong.