FEAR

Nothing freezes us in our tracks like fear. How many times have we let fear stop us from doing what we really wanted to do? Maybe we wanted to look for a job, be honest with a friend, ask someone for a date,buy a house. But we couldn't because we were afraid.

The truth is, the moment our fear takes control, our self-will also takes control. The first thing to do is to admit to ourselves that we're afraid. The second is to find out why. Discovering why may mean calling a friend to talk, praying, taking an inventory of ourselves, going to a meeting. To feel the fear lift is to have ourselves back again. Then, when we know how we feel, we'll know what to do. Can I accept my Higher Power's help and the help of others when I'm afraid?

Emotional balance and serenity unclouded by fear are the gifts of recovery.

I feared being alone... until I learned to like myself.

I feared failure... until I realized that I only fail when I don't try.

I feared success... until I realized that I had to try in order to be happy with myself.

I feared peoples opinions... until I learned that people would have opinions about me anyway.

I feared rejection... until I learned to have faith in myself.

I feared pain... until I learned that it's necessary for growth.

I feared the truth... until I saw the ugliness in lies.

I feared life... until I experienced its beauty.

I feared my destiny... until I realized that I had the power to change my life.

I feared hate... until I realized it was nothing more than ignorance.

I feared love... until it touched my heart making the darkness fade into endless sunny days.

I feared ridicule... until I learned to laugh at myself.

I feared growing old... until I realized that I gained Wisdom everyday.

I feared the future... until I realized that life just kept getting better everyday.

I feared the past... until I realized that it could no longer hurt me.

I feared the darkness... until I saw the beauty of the starlight.

I feared the light... until I learned that the truth would give me strength.

I feared change... until I saw that even the most beautiful butterfly had to undergo a metamorphosis before it could fly.