Facing Your Fear–What are YOU Afraid Of?
The Big Bad Wolf
Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf? Will he huff and puff and blow your ‘house’ down? Your life is too precious to continue to live in fear.
I’ve heard it said that we’re all afraid of “something”–whether it’s a fear of heights, fear of water, fear of dogs, fear of the unknown, or even a fear of leaving the house. My biggest fear was, catch that, was, fear of rejection.
Rejection still hurts a lot when I receive one, but I know how to recover, and that is the key. Any kind of rejection used to blindside and short circuit me, sometimes for months or even years, depending on how deep the wound was. In the past year, my writing has been rejected nine times. That’s more than I’ve ever had the courage to put myself out there before. I learned something from this most recent one…about expectations. I’m sure I’ll receive many more rejections in this life, but I’m not afraid to face them anymore.
The face of fear
When your work is rejected by a publisher you had high expectations was not only going to publish it, but you were sure they’d love it, then come to find out they’re “too busy”–well, it hurt and it hurt a lot. I was extremely disappointed. I keep thinking, “I’ll bet if I’d gone to them a year ago, they would have taken it.” But I didn’t, now I have to suffer those consequences of my choice–and theirs.
People with APD (Avoidant Personality Disorder) tend to be loners, or have few friends, because they’re afraid of rejection, so they go out of their way to avoid situations where they’ll be rejected, because of fear. That fear cripples a person socially. I know. I’ve had it all my life. I’m overcoming it. I choose to overcome and not be stopped by my own fear of rejection.
I know that sets me up for more disappointment, for more failure. But at this juncture in my life, I’ve got to do what is in my heart to do. I have a heart to write compelling stories that change peoples’ lives and point them to Christ. That’s what I’m about.
What are you afraid of? Are you trying to overcome it? Leave a comment and let me know.
Donna L.H. Smith 