I think it's about time that I admit that I am scared... scared of everything that I don't have, scared of not doing right by those things once I have them, scared of maybe never actually having them and most of all scared of what they will be like. I guess its safe to say that I am in a constant state of fear. The thing about fear though, that I am learning, is that it isn't real. By definition, fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat [to us or our perceived plans]. You see fear [of anything] can only exist when manifested in our own minds and continuously feed by our thoughts. If left untended, this idea of fear, or this emotions can't remain alive [much like any other emotion we experience]. For the last year, I have fed on the idea that if things don't go the way I think they should go, then I am not "doing well" in life. Well,... that couldn't be farther from the truth. I tried so hard to force life in the direction that I thought it was supposed to go and you can only imagine the damaged that caused; I lost relationships, opportunities and created a wealth of anxiety in my life. Sounds overwhelming huh?? Well, yes... it is. But this isn't life. This isn't the intended experience we were meant to have in our time here on earth.This emotion, or this fear that we create in our minds... it isn't real unless we tell ourselves it is. Much like the saying "happiness can only exist when you choice to be happy," well the same works for fear, it only exists when we choice to give it life. Well, I am choosing to feed this emotion no more... I am choosing to trust that this life I have been so graciously blessed with will return to me all the good that I have put into it. This fear I have, has kept me from moving forward and experiencing the blessings that God has for me. For the last year, I have heard God calling out to me to rid me of all my anxiety and fears. To cover me with a peace so strong that even the greatest of storms aren't able to shake me. My favorite bible verses, as I have been studying overcoming fear and learning the trust God, are Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:6. Both of these scriptures reassure me that as long as I am doing what is right and trusting God, he will never keep anything good from me (not to mention the bible clearly states this in Psalms 84:11). So I've challenged myself to no longer feed this emotion of fear and when I start to feel overtaken, I will quickly remind myself that there is no room for fear in this amazing life that I have been blessed with.