Become the Lion: Face Your Fears

Guys and girls!  This article originally appeared on BecomeTheLion.com, and it is now available here on Behind the Sign!  

The New Year brings endless possibilities for each and every one of us.  It is a time when we have the opportunity to start fresh with open minds and open hearts, and it’s also a wonderful time to remind ourselves that anything is possible.

It is incredibly enlightening to fully appreciate and recognize that it is possible to achieve anything that you set your mind to.  Once you understand that you possess the capability of achieving whatever it is that you set out to do in life, you will undoubtedly feel more excited about the present time as well as feeling more motivated about attaining your goals in the future.  So, how can you learn to trust that everything is going to work out for you in life, and how can you begin to see all possibilities in life as being limitless?  It’s certainly not easy to remain focused or excited to keep moving forward when times are uncertain or difficult.  I believe that the key, my reader friends, has to do with being courageous, believing in yourself and being true to who you are.

Courage
Being courageous and brave is everything.  It is vital to have faith in yourself, to be true to yourself and to have the courage to do what it takes to achieve your goal.  This consists of having the courage to be completely honest with who you are and being strong enough to face your fears, anxieties and struggles head-on.

Pursuing your passions and being yourself requires a tremendous amount of inner strength, and it's important to constantly recognize and appreciate the confidence that it takes to follow your heart and your dreams!  Often following your passion and doing what you feel is right for your life will involve going out on your own, being independent and standing strong in your choices.  Even when others may disagree with your decisions, if you feel that what you’re doing is right for your life, then it is important to stand firm in what you have chosen to do and who you have chosen to be.

As an individual who has been pursuing a dream and has been working in the entertainment business for several years now, I have learned what it takes to be strong even when it’s felt incredibly difficult to do so.  Having the courage to believe in myself through the good times and the bad times (there are constant ups and downs in this industry!) and having the fortitude to remain true to myself have been major factors in the successes that I have been fortunate to have seen so far in my life.  Overall, I have simply tried to be exactly who I am.  Living truthfully and fearlessly involves strength, vulnerability, uncertainty and honesty, which is not always been easy. Still, it’s certainly been worth it and all of the blessings that I have experienced so far in my life have evolved from making the decision to be courageous.      

Becoming a More Courageous Individual
When you make a commitment to be true to yourself and to your dreams, the possibilities for your life truly are endless.  The first step in becoming a more courageous individual, I believe, is to take an honest look at who you are today and think about the person who you’d like to become tomorrow.  (We can all aim to be a better person than we were yesterday!)  

Take some time to think about what it is that you believe will bring even more happiness to your life and tell yourself that it is absolutely possible to achieve anything!  Don’t doubt yourself.  As mentioned at the top of this article, the key is being courageous and being brave enough to try.  Earl Nightingale said, “We become what we think about.”  Think about what is possible for you and who can become and get out there to make all of your dreams your reality. 

Do not hold yourself back, my friend.  You're the only one who can stop yourself from reaching your highest potential, and it's crucial that you don't get in your own way.  We are all dealing with certain struggles, but you are a lot stronger than you might even realize.  And now, the beginning of this year, is the perfect time to let go of any doubt and begin to move forward through any struggles that you might be facing.  You’re strong enough to conquer any challenge if you’re not afraid to try. 

You have much to offer this world.  Let go of any fears or worries and decide to make this year the one that will lead you on a path to your highest potential.  The reality is that you have nothing to lose, except for the negative thoughts that chain you down! 
Henry David Thoreau said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life that you’ve imagined.” 

Therefore my friends, become a fearless lion, and make a decision to be courageous and to live truthfully.  

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