Many years ago I supervised a young woman who taught me a lot about facing my fears. She had been sent to Switzerland to perfect her French while working on a farm in the Alps. When she arrived the family she was to live with announced that they didn't need her help and she could not stay with them. They were not prepared to assist her in making alternate arrangements. So she carried her suitcases down the mountain to the village. She went to the church and asked the priest if there was a family that could use her services. She was sixteen at the time. She told me that she would never allow her fears to stop her from doing what needed to be done. In that moment I saw how often I allowed my own fear to stop me.

I have begun to recognize many of my procrastinating behaviours as fear. I see myself putting off beginning a project with many excuses for why I can't do it today (I have to finish my paper work, the grandchildren are coming, I need to make cookies - that one is left over from my university days). All of these things may be true and I know that sometimes I create reasons not to begin because I am afraid. Truth be told, I think I am always afraid that I haven't given enough thought and if I wait just a little longer, it will become clear to me.

My husband, Gary, has an opposite response. He wants everything organized and ready. He is always afraid that he will run out of time and not be ready. We lead personal growth workshops together. I'm sure you can see a problem here. At first we were often in conflict because our styles are so different. Now however, we have begun to use our respective style more effectively - we plan early and we review often.

When it comes to my art work I try to remain aware of the same principle. Nevertheless, I know that projects often sit too long because I am afraid. And the fear is a nebulous thing. Because I often can't say what the fear is about. If I am honest I know that my technical skills are adequate, my ideas interest me. Because I am a "process" person I don't believe I can fail. Sometimes I think I am afraid of success, but I am not sure what that means. Can anyone relate?

I recently had an opportunity to view my fear process in a different light. I was rock climbing at a local climbing gym. I chose to stop, not because I was afraid of taking the next step, but because I could not foresee the last step. When the coach asked how this was like my life I had to laugh. It is true that I do sometimes stop myself when I can't predict an outcome. This is particularly interesting because I also advise clients to "do what you know and don't worry about the rest until you get to it."

When I am able to remember to view life as a process I find that I am much less fearful. I know that I am much more creative when I just do my work . I am less apt to obsess about perfection and I find my work to be more pleasurable. When I am focused on outcome I often feel paralyzed. I procrastinate, I lose my focus and I often become discouraged.

 Here is an activity to help you examine your fear:

 Here are more activities which you might find useful: