From Fear to Faith: Unlocking Your Dreams by Embracing the Unknown

Discover how to overcome fear, cultivate faith, and step into your power

Ever felt that nagging fear holding you back from going after what you truly desire?

It’s like there's a dream within you, but doubt and worry keep getting in the way.

You're not alone. Fear is a universal emotion of the human experience.

But what if I told you that fear is actually a doorway to your greatest potential?

It's true! By understanding the nature of fear and choosing faith instead, you can unlock the power within you to achieve your dreams and create a life you love.

From Fear to Faith

Fear.

It's a powerful emotion that can paralyze us, keeps us stuck in our comfort zones, and prevents us from living our fullest lives.

What if we could reframe fear, not as an enemy to be conquered, but as a guide on our journey to greatness?

As I explored in my YouTube video, fear and faith are two sides of the same coin.

Both require us to believe in something unseen.

Fear is the belief in a negative outcome, while faith is the belief in a positive one.

And the choice is ours.

Now, I want to share something that I also highlighted in the video.

I want to define this next word I share below, as it often gets gobbled up by assumptions and is also frequently weaponized.

"I want to set a quick definition before I explain the interesting dichotomy between the origination of where fear comes from. The word is ignorance, but I want to read the Oxford dictionary definition of ignorance…

So if you hear me say ‘ignorance’, this is the definition of ignorance I am sharing with you: it’s lack of knowledge or information."

So, in the context of my video and this corresponding Substack post, "ignorance" simply means a lack of knowledge or information. It's not meant to be a judgment or insult but rather a neutral description of a state of being that can contribute to fear and uncertainty.

👉 The root of fear often lies in ignorance—a lack of knowledge or information.

When we don't understand something, our minds tend to fill in the gaps, and it often does so with worst-case scenarios. This is where worry and doubt creep in, fueling our fears and holding us back.

But here's the good news: We can overcome fear by choosing faith. We can choose to believe in our potential, in our ability to overcome challenges, and in the possibility of achieving our dreams.

How do we do this?

1. Acknowledge your fear: Don't try to suppress or ignore it. Instead, face it bravely, and walk toward it while acknowledging its presence.

2. Seek understanding: Take the initiative to immerse yourself in learning and observing more about the things you fear and exploring the why. The more you understand, the less power fear has over you.

3. Focus on the positive: Guide your mind to focus on the best-case scenario, not the worst. Visualize yourself achieving your goals and experiencing the joy of success.

4. Take action: Faith without action is meaningless. But remember, the actions don’t have to be giant or greatly monumental. Even the smallest of steps towards your goals (and even if you're still afraid!) are incredibly impactful. And as you begin to build up momentum, the more you act, the more confident you'll become.

From My Life Journey

I used to be plagued by fear. I was afraid of failure, rejection, and not being good enough.

I remember specifically that it would boil to the surface at work, despite the true origin of many of my fears stemming back from childhood.

I plan to share many of these monumental stories here on my Substack, so be sure to subscribe to her when they release!

I once had a newly appointed manager whom I affectionately deemed as one of the worst bosses I have ever had. However, they taught me some of the most incredible life lessons I still hold dear. So, I guess they could really be of my ‘best’ managers…

Regardless of their me-imposed title, I hold so much gratitude for all I learned from them.

A bout of doubt bubbled up because this same manager was, as I felt, coming down on me. Multiple times a day, they would come over to my desk (oh, the joys of being in an office!) to " just check in.” I’d provide them with a brief update or overview of what I was working on, and they’d instantly begin to chip away at my beliefs.

So, not on the task itself, but instead upon my beliefs.

For example, I’d share that I was working on a TPS report (classic!) and that I’d be able to wrap it up once I got some information from our CPA. But the CPA was away from the office with no ETA return date, so I’d keep a close eye on it and finish it as soon as I could.

They’d instantly roll into, “You know, Lavender, you must understand the importance of work-life balance. Not everything is about work. I know it’s hard for you because you push yourself to do your best, but that’s not always the best solution. It’s also not what we expect of you if you have to step on others to get there. As a heads-up, I’ll also be going back to my desk to check in on the dates of your next scheduled time off. If there isn’t something there, I’d encourage you to deeply think about why you’re not wanting to lead by example of how important time off is, especially with you being in HR.”

No lie, my friends. 🤦‍♀️

The frustration and pure anger (which were all rooted deeply in my fears of keeping my job, of “being able to pay my bills”, and of me being liked by my manager) were running rampant. At many times, I felt trapped.

But my journey through this (not avoiding it, not pushing it down) was what helped me better understand my fears.

I spent a lot of time journaling to not only get the thoughts out of my head and onto paper (very much like a Morning Pages stream of consciousness dump) but also to “see” my thoughts. I’d often go back and read these (although not advised by Ms. Cameron), but it really helped me step more into the position of the observer. I was able to start to think more objectively and illuminate the connections together (e.g., “Isn’t that curious? The depth of fear I feel with this manager is very similar to the fear I experienced with my parents as a child…hmm!”).

I also sought understanding through any resources I could find. I will never forget the feeling of searching Amazon and finding Byron Katie’s book, “I Need Your Love, Is That True?” I literally heard, “Get it!” I devoured the book in both written and audiobook form. I contemplated each feeling that would arise from reading it, which helped me start to identify the power of my thoughts.

So many learnings from this time…This is why I always say that times of trials truly empower our most significant transformations! They are literally the vehicles that make transformation possible.

But through my own journey of self-discovery, prompted by what some may call tragedy or intense pain, I've learned to reframe fear as an opportunity for growth. I've learned to trust my intuition, focus on the positive, and take action, even when it's scary.

However, there are still moments where I have to take a moment to step back (this is the magic of the pause, as I call it!) to better understand my reality and my feelings. But like anything that’s a practice, it’s a game of repetition.

This repetition has led to some of the most significant transformations in my life journey.

Are You Ready?

Are you ready to break free from the shackles of fear and step into your power?

Here are a few things you can do:

• Watch my YouTube video on overcoming fear and doubt

• Join the Life Journey: Empowered community here on Substack for ongoing support and inspiration

• Share your own experiences with fear and how you've overcome them in the comments below.

Remember: you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. Choose faith over fear, and watch your dreams unfold.

Namaste,
💜 Lavender

Hello, sweet friend! 👋 Yearning for connection and deeper meaning?
I'm Lavender, and I have a deep passion for unearthing the wisdom woven into life's tapestry. ✨ My own Life Journey, from navigating childhood complexities to a 20+ year corporate career with 55,000+ hours of interviewing (deeply studying humans), has honed my ability to discern human potential. Now, I share stories (past to present) that illuminate our paths, exploring resilience, transformation, purpose, and connecting with the magic within. Your deeper exploration begins here.✨

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My last Stories from My Own Life Journey post, if you’d like to wander through it:

Welcome to Life Journey: Empowered - Your Guide to Wholehearted Living

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💗✨ If the content here at Life Journey: empowered has resonated with you, if a story sparked a moment of self-discovery, or if the shared wisdom illuminated your path, I welcome your kind support. Creating this space is a heartfelt endeavor, fueled by a desire to connect and empower. Your contribution, be it the cost of a tea 🫖 or the joy of a new book 📖, directly nourishes this work and allows me to continue sharing these soulful explorations. 👇