Five truths about fear

From Susan Jeffers' "Feel the Fear...and Do It Anyway":

• The fear will never go away as long as I continue to grow.

If I keep trying new things, pushing my boundaries, I'll always run into something new to fear. This is good. I want to learn and grow.

• The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and do it.

I won't wait until I no longer fear something to go out and do it, because the fear won't go away unless I do it.

• The only way to feel better about myself is to go out...and do it.

I won't feel better about myself until I get over the fear and do what I say I could be capable of.

• Not only am I going to experience fear whenever I'm on unfamiliar territory, so is everyone else.

Life's an adventure. No one else knows what to expect around the next bend.

• Pushing through fear is less frightening than living with the underlying fear that comes from a feeling of helplessness.

Wondering what I will do if the status quo breaks down will freeze me into inaction and helplessness. Knowing that I can handle whatever comes next after I make an action will enable me to live with power.