The headache
of success has often been attributed to the work of enemies. Interestingly,
the enemy may not be that troublesome neighbor or that funny fellow. It may not
even be that rival in class or in the office. Sometimes, or most often, it is fear: the enemy within. Fear is not
what Israel is to Iran; neither is it what the bullet is to the human body; nor
is it what the hoe is to the weeds; for these suggest external enmity. Fear is
to man as sulphuric acid is to the container in which it is kept. You harbor and
nurture it but it destroys you from inside out. It is an internal adversary that
fights you worse and stronger than the external ones. It is that hidden but
loud voice that says you can’t; the voice that tells you not to even try
because you have little chances of succeeding; the voice that reminds you of
your past failures and “cautions” you not to dare; the voice of doubt that
holds you under its thumb. It is a very strong force indeed.
It has an
armoury made of spikes of bamboo as sharp as the rays of the morning sun and as
pointed as the arrow of the Red Hunter with which it fights you from all
directions - right, left, center, above and below and at all locations. Ironically
you are the very one that shelters this warrior and gives him strength to fire
the weapons. Even more dangerously, it is invisible because it is not meant for
the eyes to see; but the consequences are easily noticeable. You see the
consequence in your inability to express yourself at that public function for
fear of the crowd; you see it in your decision not to ask that very important
question in class for fear of being labeled “too knowing”; you see the
consequence in your inability to publish that jaw-breaking article you wrote
for fear of being criticized; you see it in your failure to say that much
needed word of encouragement to that neighbor of yours; the consequence is manifested
in your inability to say that simple clause “I love you” to that pretty girl
for fear of being turned down. All these are signs of an enemy within, a very
strong one for that matter.
But fear,
though invisible is not invincible. It is an enemy that can be defeated and
which you must defeat. As Karl Augustus M. said "Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out". Having some fear is instinctive and genetically born but
letting a social fear bring you down or prevent you from realizing your dream
is tragic. May be you want to be a chartered accountant, or a distinguished
banker, or a popular musician, or a prolific writer, or a celebrated
politician, or an award winning student leader, or a revered man of God, or a
successful entrepreneur, but because of your fears, you can’t take the first
step. Please, be told that about 92% of what we fear never occurs; only 8%
represent legitimate concerns (http://www.fearofstuff.com/featured/fears-amazing-statistics/). Therefore achieving your dream is highly possible. Say
no to that adversary voice within that says you can’t by saying loudly to
yourself “I can, oh yes I can”.
HARDI
0243931165,
mhardiagain@gmail.com
mhardiagain@gmail.com
