Happy new month. The past month was brimming with activities for me, and it was quite exciting too. My wife celebrated her birthday in August, and I decided to take her out for a day of fun. We went to an amusement park filled with numerous breathtaking rollercoasters. As I reflected on my experience there, I realized a very important lesson that is worth sharing. I sincerely hope this note benefits you greatly.
You might be wondering what actually happened during our visit. Well, we arrived at the park with boundless enthusiasm, fully intending to explore everything from dawn until dusk. The first ride we decided to try was a high tower called Ice Blast. The machine is 50.48 meters high and operates by rapidly moving up and down. The ascent thrilled me, but upon reaching the pinnacle and beginning the descent, a sensation of free fall engulfed me, leaving me with an impending sense of doom. After finishing the first ride, I felt as if I had just had a near-death experience, and I became so afraid to try more rides.
However, we summoned the courage to try two more rollercoasters, which were even scarier. One of them is called the Big One: a colossal 65-meter structure that seemed to have a more prolonged sensation of weightlessness. While on the ride, the air was filled with screams borne out of a mixture of excitement and fear. I, on the other hand, couldn’t bring myself to scream, as the falling sensation in my stomach was overwhelming. Anyway, there is no stopping once the ride starts, and I had to cling on until the end. What an adventure!
For many days, I couldn’t find the right words to describe what my body was subjected to on those rollercoasters until I saw a comment on Quora by Chelsea Perry, who said: rollercoasters give you the ability to emotionally and physically experience real “fear” without the possibility of dealing with any real consequences! That is it—FEAR!
So, what did I take away from the experience? Based on the way my body reacted, I understood that many of us are not afraid of moving up: our greatest fear is failing. Better put, it’s not success and victory that we dread, but the idea of stumbling, failing, and experiencing significant losses. The question then becomes: What steps must we consistently take to conquer this fear?
1. Mindset Shift
Do you view failure as an experience or something to completely avoid? Fear can be confronted by adopting a mindset of courage. This type of thinking is known as higher-resolution thinking, and it enables you to see possibilities even in the face of odds. Reflecting on the trajectory of my life, I notice progress, but not at the speed I should be moving. What’s causing this challenge? Perhaps I’m apprehensive about failure, leading me to aim for heights within my comfort zone and with minimal risk. Do you find yourself in a similar situation? What are your most significant fears? Understand that, regardless of your current stage in life, a mindset shift is crucial for upward mobility.
2. Bold Moves/Actions
You see, it takes some gut to achieve things in life. We need to fight an enemy called “average” through bold actions. What bold moves are you making in your career and personal development? Can you begin to take bold actions on those brilliant ideas of yours that fear is choking out of your mind? We all fly on airplanes across countries and even continents, which is possible because of the bold actions of some individuals. In short, many revolutionary things out there are products of bold actions.
Conclusion
Fears are an undeniable part of our human experience. We might be tempted to evade them or take a step back when they confront us. Indeed, that’s a possibility, but let’s consider this: why should we allow ourselves to be conquered by something that, with the right mindset and actions, we can conquer ourselves? It’s not about using superhuman abilities; rather, it’s about harnessing what I call “faith-inspired confidence.” To be honest, I sometimes fear that I will not be able to produce an article of good quality to share with you. But regardless of my fear, I have been consistent with my monthly NOTES.
As I bring this edition of my notes to a close, the fundamental message I’m conveying is this: Fear is universal; we all face it. What truly matters is how we choose to confront and manage it.
I am Samuel Ayankoso, The Quester
Quotes
“Unless you find the courage to face your dragons, you might not be able to find your true self.” –Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott
“Great work is done by people who are not afraid to be great.” – Fernando Flores
“Taking bold, focused action creates explosive results.” – John Di Lemme
