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Fear as Fuel?

Cayman Islands Snorkel Safari

Cayman Islands Snorkel Safari

Cayman Islands Snorkel Safari

Cayman Islands Snorkel Safari

Can you remember the last time you were afraid? What did you do? How did you use that energy? Did you let fear win and put your dream, idea or passion on the shelf? Did you not make a decision that could improve your life or your business?

Or

Did you use that fear as fuel? You know the good stuff. Premium!!! Did you use that fear as premium fuel to drive, develop, expand, or grow your vision? Move you to higher ground?

Or

Did you fall into the pit? The pit of fear which consumes all of the great ideas that never blossom. The pit of woulda, coulda, shoulda; the place where all of the dreams deferred go when fear is not used wisely.

Now, I'm not saying fear is an obsolete emotion; it's just a useless one.

Yes! We all become fearful about a new venture or charting a new course and that's ok. It's how WE use fear and not how fear uses us that will make an impact in our lives forever.

Imagine this.....

You've decided you want to go snorkeling. You go out on the boat, shallow water about 25 or 30 feet. Everyone is suited up and jumping in and now it's your turn. You are sitting on the side of the boat and a voice in one ear says, you know you can't swim. And you close your eyes and try to tune out the thought of drowning. You tell yourself drowning is not what I came here to do today. And for a moment you think about taking a seat in the back of the boat and say "forget it" but you don't!

You actually listen to the other voice in your head because there are always two voices in our head right? Or is it just me? You listen to the voice that says, you've been HERE before! You can do this! Everything you need to accomplish this task is inside of you. Remember how you felt the last time?

So without hesitation you jump in, well you don't jump in, but you gently slide into the ocean. You've turned your fear into fuel and before you know it you are doing it! You are totally enjoying all of the beauty of the sea. The fish, the coral, the plant life all of the beautiful images created by God.

So let's translate that into what you would see if you used your fear as fuel? You would see endless possibilities, hope, prospects, opportunity, growth, support, love, success, business; the list could go on and on.

The next time I'm afraid about moving forward with a project or an idea. I’m going to remember myself sitting on the side of that boat saying, "you've been here before, you can do this, you have everything you need and beautiful things are waiting ahead just for you. That is what I am going to do. What are YOU going to do? Will you turn your fear into fuel and how will you do it?

Take a moment to think about those things that you would like to pursue but fears keeps you from moving forward. Then make a list of everything that could happen if you didn't allow fear to control your thoughts. Now decide, which am I going to do?

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Dr. Taunya A. Lowe is the CEO of The Resurgent Group of Metro Atlanta, LLC and The Impact Experience, LLC, a human services and leadership development consulting firm located outside Atlanta, GA. Dr. Lowe is a speaker, trainer, coach, professor and entrepreneur. She is a skilled change agent with a focus on developing people and organizations. She enjoys combining her photography and writing to motivate, inspire and lead people toward growth and change. To learn more, visit our website http://www.theresurgentgroup.com

Give With Your Heart

Chattanooga, TN Rock City

Chattanooga, TN Rock City

If you had to measure your giving last week what would be the total? I don't mean financial giving but the total areas of your life where you could stretch and give things like your time, talent, self, ideas, help, guidance, friendship, and love. For some it's high, for others it's low and for the rest it may be barely in the middle.

In a society of ME we often forget about others and too many times we equate giving with dollars. Last week, a friend's aunt passed away and I said, "if there's anything I can do please let me know" a simple phrase that we say often but do we really mean it? The friend called later in the week to ask if I could provide a ride to the airport. I cringed. It was raining horribly and I didn't want too. Remember, I did say, let me know if there is anything I can do. (I wonder if God cringes when we ask for help?)

While in the middle of my dilemma, a colleague called for some assistance on a project (giving my talent). I mentioned a friend had a family death and needed a ride to the airport. I don't want to go, even though I did offer my help. My colleague replied, "the worst thing you can do is offering to help someone if it's not going to build your business." I was stunned especially after I'd spent countless hours assisting this colleague with a project that would not benefit me at all. I thought wow how selfish and my heart was convicted. I immediately got in my car to take my friend to the airport and I was glad to be in a position to do it. I prayed for the family and safe travels.

When we give of our time, talent, self, money, ideas, help, guidance, friendship, and love;
WE receive abundantly! When we give with our head it's easy not to give at all because we can think our way out of giving. That's what we do when we haphazardly offer to do things but we really don't mean it or even if we do mean it at the time we don't really expect people to take us up on it. When they do take us up on it we try to think (head) our way out of it.

When we give with our hands it's easy to take it back. We cancel commitments all the time, we take back that in which we've given way more than we should consciously and unconsciously. We take (hand) back our love, we take (hand) back our friendship, we take (hand) back our assistance. We control our giving by taking it back and the moment we do we block our blessing and the ability to be a blessing to someone else.

Giving with our head and hand will keep us on the low-end of the giving spectrum. But when we give with our heart amazing things happen. When we give with our heart we give genuinely and not out of obligation. When we give with our heart we give in agape love which is selfless, sacrificial and unconditional and when we give with our heart it allows us to give more time, talent, self, money, ideas, help, guidance, friendship, and love. Let's be genuine, faithful, agape heart-givers this week and increase our giving and watch how we are abundantly blessed in our own areas of need while we bless others.

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Dr. Taunya A. Lowe is the CEO of The Resurgent Group of Metro Atlanta, LLC and The Impact Experience, LLC, a human services and leadership development consulting firm located outside Atlanta, GA. Dr. Lowe is a speaker, trainer, coach, professor and entrepreneur. She is a skilled change agent with a focus on developing people and organizations. She enjoys combining her photography and writing to motivate, inspire and lead people toward growth and change.