Battling Fear

Hi Everyone.


Franklin D. Roosevelt is credited with having said, "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself."  Well, in effect that's a much shortened version of what he actually said. In his first Inaugral Speech, the exact quote is, "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."


In the last posting I mentioned doing something new that you think you can't.  Fear is the major thing that keeps us from tackling new tasks: fear of failure, of looking stupid, of making the wrong choice.
It can be something as simple as being afraid to make a home repair on your own or as big as moving to a new town. Fear can paralyze us into non-action.


I'm as guilty of this as the next person, hence this great "insight". Just a little example. I'll give you a glimpse into how my mind was processing and see if you know what I'm talking about.


About a year ago, there was some water on the laundry room floor. "Who spilled something and didn't mop it up?" Clean it up and go about your way. Next day same thing. So you do a test run on the machine and you see it leaking. So you turn off the water and go to work. Check the prices of washers. UGH!  You call a few repair guys for a price check. Ugh again. Well, there's always the laundromat. That gets to be a drag and expensive both in time and money. Now what?


Sound familiar? Maybe not. Most people would just bite the bullet, whip out the credit card and buy a new machine. And a lot of us would replace the dryer too, cause, you just can't have a washer that doesn't match the dryer. We have become a "throw away" society. Very few people bother to fix things any more.


Well, after a month of trips to the laundromat, I decided I'd have to overcome my fear of trying the fix the machine myself. Sounds stupid to be afraid of just trying something, but I was: what if I made it worse, what if I couldn't fix it and it'd cost more because I messed with it? Stupid fears, but there all the same.


So, where to start? 


This is where using whatever resources are available helps reduce the fear. The internet is amazing in this regard.  I looked up how to open the machine. Opened it up and there in plain sight was a cracked hose. Two hose clamps to undo and I had the hose in hand. Back to the internet to find a parts place. A quick trip taking the old hose with me to be sure I got the right one. Man, all those trips to the laundromat and it was such an easy fix. And all because I was afraid to try fixing it myself.


Fear can paralyze us, causing us to make foolish decisions or make no decision at all.  We fear what we don't understand, so use the resources at hand to learn what you're up against. The internet, friends who have knowledge in the area, or even a local repair place can answer question for you.  When I had a problem with the dryer a few months later, I called the parts store where I bought the hose for the washer and told them what the problem was. They told me what the possibilities, and how to test for each one.  Once again it was an easy fix.


Don't let fear paralyze you. Ask someone to help. Just having someone there as back up and lessen our fears. Once you begin having success in completing the tasks, your fear will take a back seat to the feeling of accomplishment you have when you do something you thought you couldn't.


Well, that's all for now. I'll see you next time but until then, keep prepping because what you do matters, and remember, "Just 'cause there's snow on the rooftop, doesn't mean there ain't a fire in the fireplace."

Candy