FEAR
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible
to achieve: the fear of failure.”
—Paulo Coelho
Toward the end of writing this book, I woke up one morning with the revelation that there was a common thread in all of the chapters on manifesting with the angels. Each chapter always came to the same conclusion. Only one thing keeps us from living our lives fully. One emotion deprives us of living a healthy, happy, abundant life while being in love and realizing our life’s purpose. One emotion has kept us sick, unhappy, poor, and feeling unloved and without direction for thousands of years. It has affected entire generations. This emotion is fear.
We basically all have the same desire to be happy. We strive our whole lives to stay healthy, in shape, find love, build a family, and earn money, all while doing work that pleases us and prepares us for retirement. We all live in a state of survival.
For many people, there is always something wrong. They are either sick, out of shape, unhappy in their work, in a loveless marriage, or living under the poverty line.
After several years of reflection on my own life, trying to understand why I was sick, unhappy, loveless, and staying in a job I no longer enjoyed, the angels told me one morning that one thing was keeping me from living my life fully: fear.
Different Fears
That same day when the angels whispered this idea to me in my ear, I noticed my own string of fear-based thoughts: “I should eat fruit for breakfast. Eating too much white bread is not good for my health, and especially with cheese spread. It must not be good for my body because it is not natural. I have not slept enough. I am going to be tired today.”
This dialogue that was running through my mind shows that I was afraid to eat bread and cheese spread. I was afraid for my health. I was also afraid of not getting enough sleep and of being tired. All these fears ran though my head in just ten seconds.
We attract what we fear, so imagine what I was creating that morning.
Here is a list of common fears:
Health
• Fear of overeating
• Fear of eating too much sugar, meat, or bread
• Fear of not eating enough vegetables and fruits
• Fear of smoking too much or of not being able to stop
• Fear of drinking too much alcohol or of becoming or being an alcoholic
• Fear of having slept too much or not enough
• Fear of being too hot, too cold, or tired
• Fear of getting sick or becoming disabled or dependent
• Fear of depression
Appearance
• Fear of putting on weight
• Fear of losing weight
• Fear of being too beautiful
• Fear of being too ugly
• Fear of not being fit enough
• Fear of being too muscular
• Fear of not being physically perfect
• Fear of not being attractive
Love
• Fear of not finding love
• Fear of not being lovable
• Fear of not being loved
• Fear of not being respected
• Fear of losing ourselves in love
• Fear of allowing ourselves to be loved
• Fear of surrendering and being vulnerable
• Fear of not making the right choice in love
At Work
• Fear of standing our ground or making bad decisions
• Fear of not being smart, fast, efficient, or profitable enough
• Fear of failing exams or competitions or of not living up to the expectations of others and our own
• Fear of disappointing our boss, our colleagues, and our clients
Money
• Fear of not having enough money
• Fear of not being able to pay our bills or take care of our family
• Fear of not saving enough for a decent retirement
• Fear of bankruptcy
• Fear of being ripped off when buying goods and services
Life in General
• Fear of being rejected, abandoned, humiliated, or betrayed
• Fear of experiencing injustice
• Fear of failure or success
• Fear of displeasing others or not measuring up
• Fear of traveling
• Fear of dreaming or daring to take a chance or risk
• Fear of moving forward, standing our ground, or being all that God intended for us to be
• Fear of the future
• Fear of living
• Fear of dying
Do you see yourself in these fears? I have noticed how often I feel afraid in one single day and just how much my fears have been blocking me. My fears have sometimes stopped my momentum dead in its tracks and prevented me from living the beautiful life God and the angels have intended for me. In 2009, I felt guided to leave my job to pursue my spiritual career full-time, but I was too afraid to leave. I had a hundred clients on a waiting list but was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to make it financially. I was paralyzed by fear and my lack of faith.
The Origin of Fear
When we were babies, we were not afraid of anything. Babies have an intuition, a sensitivity, that protects them. If they sense something is wrong, they will cry and let you know.
Over the years, children are influenced by parents and caregivers. They imitate them. For example, if the parent or sitter is nervous, the child will feel it and become nervous too. If the mother is afraid of spiders, chances are the child will develop this fear too. Parents instill fear in their children from birth. They will say things like, “Be nice!” “You’re not nice!” or “You’re a bad boy!” Children then develop a fear of losing love.
Next we hear, “Don’t run too fast!” “Be careful crossing the street!” “Don’t talk to strangers!” “Don’t eat too fast!” “You’re going to fall!” These words are always well intentioned and are meant to protect the child, but they instill fear as well. Over the years, the words become, “Money doesn’t grow on trees!” “You have to work hard!” “You have to have a respectable job!” We then develop fears of taking risks, of daring, or of following our dreams. We begin to lack confidence in ourselves and we lack faith in life. When we are afraid of the future, it simply means we do not trust in God and the angels to take care of us. When we are afraid of losing the love of our family, we do not trust them either.
The angels invite us to look at what is blocking us, what it is we fear. When we look at it and see it for what it is, we can transform it. We cannot change what we do not acknowledge.
So look at what is wrong in your life and ask yourself, “What am I afraid of? Where does this fear come from? Is it justified? Is it serving me?”
Take a look at your life to see where fear may be stopping you or holding you back, and see what solutions you might find to overcome your fears and finally live the life of your dreams.
Most people are afraid of change. They are afraid to change jobs, leave their spouse, disappoint their family, or follow their dreams. How can you let go of these fears? You have to look past the fear. The angels invite you to go into your imagination and ask yourself, “What is the worst thing that could happen?”
Perhaps you risk losing your job, or your spouse, or all your money. And then what? Imagine yourself in the worst possible situation and see how you would handle it. There is always a solution to everything. It may be different from what you would like, but it exists. Maybe you will make less money than before, but you may also be happier too. Perhaps you will live alone for a while, but you will meet someone new eventually. Maybe your home will be smaller, but you will be happy anyway. There is always a solution, an answer to every problem. Also remember that you are not alone. You are surrounded by your loving angels who are just waiting to assist you on your path. Remember to call on them in difficult times when you are afraid and need reassurance.
If we are living in fear, we need to build our faith. We need to believe that God and the angels are caring for us. We need to remember that we are never alone. We are all one. We are all connected to each other and to the divine. God and the angels are part of us and we are part of them. They want what we want. It cannot be otherwise. But we must move forward fearlessly, hand in hand with them.
The angels also want you to trust in your ability to overcome adversity and to figure things out. Believe in yourself. Know that you have everything inside of you to succeed. Have complete faith and confidence in yourself. Believe in yourself and in your future. Stay positive and keep focused on the benefits of making positive changes in your life. Always stay focused on what you can gain rather than what you may lose.
My motto for change has always been “I am more afraid to be stuck in yesterday than I am of tomorrow.” I know what yesterday entailed and I have always believed that tomorrow is full of possibilities. Keeping that in mind has always helped me move forward more fearlessly.
So when we experience fear, the angels recommend that we focus on what we want and not on what we don’t want. For example, if you are afraid of quitting your job, start imagining what your new job would be like. What kind of new job would you like to have? Imagine yourself in this new place and how you would feel. If you wish to be self-employed, take a day off and pretend you already are. How would you spend your day? The joy you will feel imagining or pretending to be in your new life will replace your fear. This joy will attract to you what you really want and give you the courage to move forward. Our outer life is always a reflection of our inner life. When we are fearful, we attract what we fear. When we are joyful, we attract more of what makes us happy.
When you notice you are in fear, ask yourself if your fear is really justified, make an action plan to eliminate each one of your fears, and move forward with courage and confidence in the direction of your dreams. Imagine your dream life. Use your imagination to bring yourself into a state of joy, fulfillment, grace, and love. It is these emotions that will attract to you the amazing life of your dreams!
It’s like the saying “Feel the fear and do it anyway!” That is what I have been doing these last three years since I left my job and my family and friends and sold my house, my furniture, and my car, all to pursue this calling I have in my heart the desire to share with you my love for the angels. I have been learning to move past my fears and stay centered in faith. I trust that I am being guided and cared for each and every step of the way. And I can attest to you that everything I have needed so far has been provided. I live a much simpler life but certainly a happier and more fulfilling one.
Have I been afraid? Of course. There are days when I feel overwhelmed by fear, but I go outside for a walk or meditate and I pray to the angels.
When I feel in fear, I stop and ask myself, “What am I so afraid of?” Once I know exactly what I fear, I pray to the angels to help with that. My prayers are always a prayer of gratitude in advance for that which I need or desire: “Thank you, thank you, thank you, my darling angels, for taking care of me and all my needs. Thank you for the courage and strength to keep moving forward fearlessly. Thank you for ___________.”
Next, I make an action plan and get busy. Fear often creeps in when we are not busy enough. When we are focused on the task at hand, we have no time to be afraid.
The Power of Prayer
Prayer is one of the most powerful methods we can use to transform our lives and overcome fear. When we pray with conviction, believing that someone or something greater than ourselves is working on our behalf, miracles can happen.
Many people today are living with much anxiety, stress, and fear and do not realize the power of prayer. Just the other day, a friend of mine who has been battling anxiety for the past ten years finally realized that in her parents and grandparents’ day, they handled their stress and anxiety with prayer. “Most people don’t think about praying,” she said. Like her, they struggle through life alone or in therapy and with drugs. Know that the angels are here to help you, and remember that they cannot help you unless you ask.
I, myself, was going through a difficult period recently. After being married for only eighteen short months, I was very unhappy and realized I had made a mistake. I was filled with shame, guilt, and fear. I knew deep down in my heart that this was not the life God and the angels wanted for me. My inspiration was gone, as well as my joy for living. I had no self-esteem, no self-confidence, no energy, and no desire to continue living my life as it was. At the same time, I felt paralyzed by fear. I was stuck and didn’t know how I was going to get myself out of it. I had become financially dependent and was in debt. I felt trapped. I started to wonder how I was going to find the strength and courage to right the wrong. I was afraid to tell my husband, my family, my friends, and my clients. I was afraid to disappoint all the people I loved.
Many of you will ask, “Well, didn’t you receive any signs before you got married?” Yes, I did. I knew in my gut that something was off, but I just couldn’t make sense of it. He had everything I had wanted in a person, but I had this feeling I could not shake. I know people say, “If you have doubts, don’t.” Well, that is true, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. Sometimes we don’t have the strength to do the right thing, so we go along until one day we find it. And when we finally feel strong enough to do the right thing, the angels say to be proud of ourselves for finally doing what we know is true in our heart and not beat ourselves up because we didn’t do it sooner. Better late than never.
Every experience brings a lesson. I’ve learned that I really need to trust and listen to my gut feeling, whether I understand it or not. I have learned to love and respect myself more and to be more assertive. I have a new sense of strength and self-worth that I did not have before that relationship. Every experience holds a blessing, and I am grateful for my newfound strength and confidence.
This is the type of situation in which fear will lead us. I was so afraid of hurting him and the people around me that I ended up hurting myself the most.
Prayer is what saved me. It gave me the strength and the courage to do the right thing.
A friend of mine had spoken to me about the Prayer of Saint Francis, and upon reading it, I felt this strong desire well up inside of me and thought, “That’s what I want my life to be about.” So one morning, I shared the Prayer of Saint Francis on my Facebook page:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The next day, I felt inspired to write and share my own prayer. I sensed that others might be experiencing their own difficulties and maybe my prayer could help. So my first prayer looked like this:
Dear God and my loving angels, you know I have been experiencing difficulties lately. Thank you for helping me not only get through this difficult period but transform it. Thank you for your mercy and your blessings. Thank you, God and my dearest angels, for renewing my faith both in you and myself.
I composed and shared a prayer every day afterward. Twelve days after sharing that first prayer, I felt the courage to leave my marriage. It took every ounce of strength I had, but I knew that my soul would die if I stayed. And I knew that if I stayed, he would look at me one day and say, “You are not the person I married,” and of course I wouldn’t have been, because she was dying a little every day. I knew that I would have woken up ten years down the road totally disconnected from my true self and alone.
Seventy-five days after posting that first Prayer of Saint Francis, the angels whispered to me that my prayer had been answered. They said, “Go read it and see!” I went back to my first post on January 30th and cried as they told me that by sharing my own daily prayers, I had sown love, pardon, faith, hope, light, and joy in the lives of others. I had consoled, understood, and loved them. By giving, I had received. I forgave and was forgiven.
And most importantly, the old me had died and I was reborn. My life had completely transformed in those seventy-five days. I had left my husband, moved back to Quebec City, and taken my life back. Was it all easy? No. I did some crying and a lot of praying. I reached out to friends who were there for me and loved me through the experience without judgment. It was heart-warming to hear a friend say, “You are the strongest person I know,” or having my family stand by my decision and say, “The only thing that matters is that you’re happy. We love you no matter what.”
I know that not everyone will understand your decision to love and honor what you know to be true in your heart. We all make so-called mistakes in our lives; we take detours and gain experiences. Know that you are always headed in the right direction. We live and learn. Every experience brings us a lesson and a gentle message that says, “Love yourself more.” Let go of all your fears, including the ones about what other people might think, and move forward fearlessly. Be true to yourself and your calling. Learn to obey the guidance of your angels immediately without question.
Know that you are never alone. God and the angels love you and will never judge you or leave you. They only want you to be happy. They wait patiently by your side, waiting for you to call upon them. Pray to them and know that your prayers will always be answered. You just have to believe.
If you are feeling the desire to change your own life right now, ask the angels to help you let go of the fear. Here are a couple of prayers that may help you tame your fears and move forward with strength and courage. They have helped me.
Dear God and my loving angels, thank you for helping me tame my fears. I know that fear is just a sign of my lack of faith in you and your goodness. Please help me remember that all things are possible through you. Like any loving parent, you love me and care for me and you will never let me down. Please help me trust in your divine plan for my life and know that all is well. I trust that I am safe.
Thank you, God and my darling angels, for guiding me forward, for helping me look past my fears to see only opportunities and love in the future, and for giving me the strength and courage to follow your guidance. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I have found prayer and meditation to be the most effective ways to conquer my own fears of moving forward and of the unknown. I pray to the angels to help build my faith in them and in their divine plan.
To help you build your own faith, the angels suggest you look back at your life and see how they have always been there for you and how everything has always worked out. When you can see that God and your loving angels have always been there by your side, you can more easily move forward, one step at time and with confidence, trusting that all is well and that you are never alone.
Prayer to Release Fear
To help you release fears of moving forward, I offer you the following prayer.
Worthiness
“Lord God, I am worthy of your goodness, your grace, and your blessings. With your help, I am willing to release all fears that are preventing me from moving forward. I know that my will is your will and you only want what is best for me.”
Desire
“Dearest angels, I deeply desire ___________.”
Trust
“My dearest angels, I trust you completely. I know that you are with me every step of the way. I promise you, Lord God and my dearest angels, to always look at my fears and take action to diminish them and to listen to your divine guidance. I will stay open to and follow all the signs you will send my way.”
Imagination
I reserve at least ten minutes a day to imagine that I am already realizing my dreams. I imagine the joy, the love, and the wholeness I feel in this new life that I live fearlessly.
Gratitude
“Thank you in advance, Lord God and my dearest angels, for helping me with my confidence in you, in myself, and in life. Thank you for the courage, strength, and determination to move forward fearlessly. I am grateful for your presence, your assistance, and your guidance. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
EXERCISE
Too often we let our fears take over and keep us prisoners of our lives. Get in the habit of looking at what is preventing you from moving forward and creating the life you want.
Look at your life to see where fear may be stopping you and cutting off your momentum. See what solutions you might find to overcome your fears and finally live the life of your dreams. Remember that you are never alone.
Worthiness
Write down your fears, the worst things you think could happen to you. For example:
• “I’m afraid of not succeeding.”
• “I’m afraid of running out of money.”
For each of your fears, ask yourself if it is really justified.
Then release all your fears:
• “I release the fear of not succeeding.”
• “I release the fear of running out of money.”
Now create new beliefs:
• “I succeed in all I do.”
• “Everything I need is being provided to me.”
Desire
Describe your dreams.
Trust
Look at each one of your fears and see what actions could be taken to overcome or diminish them. Ask your angels to help you find solutions to diminish your fears and to propose actions to help increase your confidence. Stay open to divine guidance.
For each one of your fears, find an action to diminish it. Her are some examples:
|
Fear |
Actions |
|
Fear of failure |
Doing my best each and every day |
|
Fear of being short of money |
Save money; establish a budget and follow it |
Imagination
Describe in great detail how you would live your life fearlessly.
Gratitude
Write down what makes you grateful.
• “I am grateful for the courage, strength and determination to move forward.”
• “I am grateful for your presence, your assistance and your guidance.”