50. Do the things you fear

One of the great inhibitors of our lives is fear. If you suspect that fear has been holding you back from the things you want to do, there is something you can do about it.

Set aside a couple of hours in the next few days, or take some time right now, to make a list of all the things you would like to do but haven’t done because you were afraid to. Be honest, and really think about this. No one else ever has to see this list but you.

What would your life be like if you left the town you grew up in to seek your fortune out in the real world, instead of staying home where everything is safe, cozy, and guaranteed? What would your life be like if you gave up the company job, and started your own business as you’ve always wanted to do?

What would your life be like if you quit the job you can’t stand and went back to school to get trained in a field you really love? What would your life be like if you got out of a relationship that wasn’t working, and created the space for one that would work for you?

You may be starting to realize that the things you want to do are the things you should be doing, even if the thought of doing them may be terrifying for you. They are things you came here to do and to experience and to be. Not doing them is holding you back from being the totally full and realized person you can be.

If you can’t energize yourself to do the things you fear, there are many seminars you can take and retreats you can attend that will provide you with an opportunity to do some seemingly terrifying feats—like walking across a bed of burning coals, or climbing to the top of a telephone pole and jumping off—that serve as metaphors for the real-life fears we all have to face.

Few things will liberate you faster and move you more quickly along your inner path than doing the things you fear.