Eric's comment in my post about living in the moment made me realize that one of the greatest barriers in accomplishing life fulfillment is fear.
It's pretty easy to see it in other people. One friend stays in a bad relationship because of fear she'll be alone, another because she fears she's not good enough to find someone else. One friend stays in a shitty job because he fears he can't find another. One of my former volleyball kids feared trying out because she thought she would get cut. Fear outright blocks people from taking the moments right in front of them.
I'm trying very hard to be self-aware about those fears in my life as well. I fear coming up with a solid business plan because I think it will never work. I fear writing a screenplay because it will suck. I fear moving because I might be less comfortable. I fear going to the doctor because I could learn something scary about my health. I fear buying the gear I need because of debt (just kidding, that's never a problem for me!).
Living in fear isn't living at all, so I try to resolve to break out of this cycle. Honestly, seeing others live in fear helps me a little when I see how miserable they are. That's probably not very cool, and I'm not suggesting I'm better than anyone, but it really helps me see who I do not want to be.
So the lesson for the day is... (fog == bad && fear == bad) == true
"oh when you were young did you question all the answers? Did you envy all the dancers who had all the nerve?
Look around you now. You must go for what you wanted. Look at all my friends who did and got what they deserved.
And there's so much time to make up everywhere you turn. Time we have wasted on the way. So much water moving underneath the bridge. Let the water come and carry us away."
It was fear that prevented me from doing a lot ot things when I was much younger. I realized that a little too late in life...at least for some things...but it's never too late to abolish fears.
"but it's never too late to abolish fears"
How much more true can that statement be. Fear is the cause of all of the worlds problems and all of our individual problems.
I have conquered my fear of being social by elimiating the part of me that made me self conscious. Now I need to eliminate the fear that keeps me from reaching my potential. For me, its the fear of not being able to provide for my family. That being said, I am taking it one step at a time. Working through the fear until it goes away.
I have a somewhat loaded (and rhetorical) question for you (Jeff).
What is the worst thing that could happen if you try and fail? To whom other than yourself are you responsible? Your true friends will support you and not judge you. The rest of the world be damned.