Phobophobia and Facing Your Fears

So we've come to the end of Face Your Fears February (although the sentiment will last throughout the Year of Dreams). 

FDR told us that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". My first reaction to that is always, "Okay, he obviously hasn't seen Jaws. Or Zombies. Or been on a roller coaster where you are flooded with the impending doom of falling of and being maimed for life". 

However, he goes on to define fear as "nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." 

Touche`, FDR. Touche`. 

This month was about converting retreats to advances. 

For years I did not attempt to run because I was scared that I was too slow, too out of shape or would  fail if I set any goals. I retreated from solidly committing to ANYTHING, always leaving myself an out in case I needed to retreat. I am now up to 3.2 miles and am signed up for a 10K in May.

 I am also almost ridiculously committing to go all the way through Lent without consuming any animal products. Even to the point of going with my family to Mill Creek Cattle Co. on "Meaty Saturday" and asking if they have Vegan options while the head of a steer is on the wall behind me (true story).

For my whole life I was scared of love. I rarely said it, showed it or expressed it. It was too scary, too risky, and I could get hurt. Almost as if letting someone know you care about them gives them an insight of knowledge if they want to hurt you. I guess that's part of what FDR meant by "unjustified terror". This month I have actively expressed my love for people and even wrote a letter to my future husband on Valentine's day. I have discovered that A) Loving people, although it can be scary, is so worth it. B) We are commanded to love people and so it makes sense that when we do, we are blessed- like we are working with and not against the system and, finally,  C) Buddy the Elf is a good role model for loving people: 

As the month ends, think about what "unjustified terrors" might be paralyzing your efforts to turn your retreats into advances. If God has got your back (which a quick glance at Hebrews 13:5 shows you that He does), then your fears are absolutely unjustified in rendering you to inaction. This is only one of the reasons why you should kick them right in the face! 

KABAM!!

Although Face Your Fears February is ending, be encouraged in knowing that Facing Your Fears with God at your side reaps rewards you never even thought of. 

And, most of the time, you realize that whatever you fear is not the great and powerful wizard that you thought it was, but a little balding man behind a green curtain trying to make you look powerless.

 "I could totally take that guy!" 

I think FDR was on to something.

Stay tuned for Make it Happen March!!

  

Face Your Fears February- Commitment and the Gee Willikers No-Animal-Product Lent

Commitment. That's scary. 

But, why?

Okay, I think I may have figured it out this month. Which is good because it's Face Your Fears February. Commitment implies something solid and concrete. Something with boundaries and parameters. Something that can't be blurred or blended. If it's a commitment, it's happening. 

Yikes.

For someone like me who likes spend a lot of time in the gray area where it's easy to blend and blur and leave doors open for escape, failure and excuses, commitment is somewhat terrifying.

Unknowingly, in committing to 46 (now only 44!) days of not eating animal products and not cussing and also by committing to running in a 10k in May, I am facing that fear head on. And, it is kind of scary.

So it turns out that going without animal products (I would use the term Vegan here-which it actually is- but it seems that many people equate vegan with bleeding-heart liberal hippie communism, so I'll just keep saying "no animal products") and no cussing and driving to work do not go hand-in-hand. Especially on the first day when trying to figure everything out. 

I actually probably cussed more than normal on the first day because I would say something, realized I cussed and then cuss that I cussed. Don't get me wrong, my normal speech patterns aren't generally that of a character from Scarface or anything, but it's something I just wanted to get in the habit of not doing. I also realized that there are no other words on the earth as versatile as those words. I mean, really. The same word can be a noun a verb and an adjective ALL IN THE SAME SENTENCE! But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing and so this will (as best as possible) cease for at least the next 44 days. Commitment. 

The eating is not as difficult as I thought and I actually weirdly feel better. But I have a feeling I will be jonesing for a cheeseburger pretty quickly and will be forced to honor my commitment by yelling words that are not as versatile as the ones I would like to use.

And for the running. This is perhaps the most scary for me. I was the kid in middle school who was in the back with the special-ed kids when running the mile. In fact, I'm pretty sure they were faster than I was even when they ran for a little bit in the wrong direction (true story). I've never been competitive, never had endurance for running and also never given to trying because I always expect to get over it and fail. 

A 10K is 6.4 miles. I have committed to run 6.4 miles without dying. For most people this is not a big deal. For me this is HUGE. It's not something I can do at the last minute, but something I have to COMMIT to work toward and train for. And the evidence of my efforts will be obvious (for the good or the bad) at the completion of the race. And there is always the chance that I could fail. SCARY.

However, running this race was inspired by someone who I love bigger than the moon. He has fought to regain each step, each word, and each smile. He is a pint-sized hero who reminds me that, if we fight for it in God, we can do anything. 

COMMITMENT. 

What are you afraid of committing to? There's less than a week left in Face Your Fears February. DO IT!

Kickin' it off- better late than never!

YEAR OF DREAMS.  LIVE IT. BE IT. LOVE IT.


Alright, so it's definitely late February. The Year of Dreams has been in effect for nearly two months and it is too good not to be shared. The name is self-explanatory. This is the year that dreams come true. This is the year that things turn around. Why? Because it's the Year of Dreams.


2011 was a tough year. It was the year that was that like giant wrecking ball or bull-dozer you see on Extreme Makeover Home Edition. It cleared the way so that the Year of Dreams could be built.


For me (Rachael), it began with Jumping in January. I literally jumped out of a plane and figuratively jumped out of my comfort zone by proclaiming a deep love for my community that was always there but was always something that I was afraid to let out.

That lead to Face Your Fears February. Fears come in all different shapes and sizes. For me, I had/ve a fear of running. A fear of not being fast enough or good enough and also of hating it and giving up. This kept me from starting a running routine for years/ever. But since it was/is Face Your Fears February, I did it anyway. And I'm still doing it. And in May, I will be running a 10K in honor of Cade, who I love to the moon and back.  If you want to join the run, you can sign up here:


JOIN TEAM CADE!! 


Another general fear is a fear of love. Valentines day is also in February. I've never been one to be depressed about the single life. In fact, I've never really even thought past that since anything else brings up all sorts of insecurities and fears. But this year, I had the best Valentines day I have ever had. I embraced the idea of love and, although it was spent with my amazing single friend (which included a candlelight dinner of Spaghetti and wine and, of course, laughing), we made it special by writing letters to our future husbands. Fear turned to excitement and anticipation and a newfound appreciation for life as a single woman, preparing for a one-day God-given gift of marriage.


Another Face Your Fears endeavor came in the form of a documentary called Forks Over Knives. DON'T WATCH IT! But do. It will make you want to never eat another animal product again. And so....for lent- which, by the way I have NEVER participated in and even had to look up the significance of....I am going Vegan. Luckily, I have some good friends participating, too. Oh and I'm giving up cussing, too. We'll see how this goes.


Here's the Trailer for the movie you SHOULD(n't) watch:

And so comes the charge: JOIN THE YEAR OF DREAMS! You've got another week to Face your Fears! What are you scared of? Why? FACE IT. Jump, Love, Speak, Run, Whatever!




Next month is MAKE IT HAPPEN MARCH! What have you been putting off? Think about it. March is the month to make it happen.