Conquer Your Fears, Failures and the Future

What is your Fear? Are you afraid of the dark?
Frightened to take risks because of the fear of failure?
Scared of the uncertainties of the future?

Darkness is oftentimes associated with nasty monsters, creepy villains, and scary demons. Fear of the dark frequently is rooted from childhood experiences.

Fear of failures is one of the major reasons why even a very capable employee would not volunteer for an upcoming Project. He would rather choose to be silent and would just go with the flow, hoping that someday his manager would just suddenly notice him and appoint him to lead a Project.

A saying goes like this, "No one knows what the future holds." That is an accurate statement! Really, no one could predict exactly what the future may bring. These uncertainties might cause anxiety and fear to creep into you slowly every day, if not addressed properly.

How should you respond to your Fears, Failures, and the Future?

Maloi Malibiran-Salumbides, a Radio Announcer of 702 DZAS (FEBC Philippines), wrote in her article in "Protips" on July 29, 2014 Tips on How to Conquer Your Fears, Failures and the Future.

1. The best way to respond to your fears is this: Face Everything And Rise. Napakaraming uri ng phobia. May takot maligo, ang tawag diyan ay ablutophobia. Alam mo bang mayroon ding may takot na yumaman ang tawag naman sa phobia na iyan ay plutophobia. Ang takot naman na matuto ay may sophophobia. Many of our fears are irrational pero may mga takot din naman na bunga ng traumatic na karanasan. Kung pababayaan mo ang iyong takot na ma-overpower ka, marami kang mami-miss na opportunities sa iyong trabaho. Maraming magagandang karanasan ang hindi mo masusubukan. Kaya, face your fears and rise above them. There are different kinds of phobia.

2. The best way to respond to failures: Learn from them and move-on. Marami na tayong inspiration dito. Nariyan si Manny Pacquiao na ilang beses ng natalo sa laban pero palagi pa rin bumabangon, natututo buhat sa kanyang pagkatalo at nagwawaging muli. Mistakes can be our best teachers. Conquering our failures can be our best accomplishment. Pagdating sa failure, learn from them, try again and move-on.

3. The best way to respond to the uncertainties of the future: Be still and learn to trust. Magtiwala sa Diyos na nakaaalam kung ano ang nasa hinaharap. Magtiwala din sa iyong team na makakatulong mo sa iyong trabaho. Magtiwala sa iyong sarili at sa mga karanasan at kakayahang ibinigay sa iyo ng Diyos. Sabi nga ng awit, "I don't know about tomorrow but I know who holds my hand." Kung ang Diyos ang iyong pinagkakatiwalaan, kahit ang mga bagay na hindi mo alam ay di dapat maging dahilan upang mangamba.

But don't you know that there is a healthy kind of fear?

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;    fools despise wisdom and instruction." - Proverbs 1:7

If you fear the Lord, the Creator of everything, you won't need to be afraid of any created thing.

Even if you fail, you know that "all things work together for the good of those who love God..."

And though you are not certain of what the future holds, you are sure who holds the future - the One who is the Beginning and the End, Jesus Christ, and He promised to never leave you nor forsake you.

God's amazing grace is calling upon you, lay down your fears unto Jesus, by faith acknowledge that you need Him. Turn away from your sins. The truth is, we all do need God.

© 2015 Erickson Ibana

 Image found using Google Image Search: "fear"

What Satisfies You?

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” - Paulo Coelho

What satisfies you? What is your treasure? What is your greatest desire?

Will you really be happy when you attain these:

• Money? (unending passive income)
• Real Estate Properties? (luxurious house and lot)
• Fame? (be a star in a movie)
• Relationship? (the most beautiful/loving person in the world as your special someone)

Given the chance to experience each of the above, let's examine if it is indeed the endless source of joy in your life...

Money

It was once said that it's "money that makes the world go round!" You use money to buy your basic needs: food, clothes, a decent house; and even for the not-so-basic ones like pleasurable moments watching the movie. What if you revolve your world around money? Will it really satisfy you? How ironic that a great number of depression and suicide cases are from the wealthy!

Real Estate Properties

Wouldn't you be happy if you have your own house and lot? You do not need to rent. You are secured both from the heat of the sun and the coldness of the storm. Imagine you have several world-class mansions on a thousand-hectare land! You sleep on the softest bed, with the most comfortable pillows. But really, could this make you satisfied? How come there were times that even the softest bed and the most comfortable pillows could not grant you the precious sleep that you desire?

Fame

Just within 24 hours, you gained a 39.5-million tweet popularity. From a common television watcher, you became the star - the actor to be watched at. Several commercial and movie contracts line up at your doors! But, would the applause and admiration of the crowd really satisfy your heart? Sadly, a number of movie and theater personalities committed suicide. Amidst the wonderment and appreciation of their myriad fans, they still felt lonely.

Relationship

It really is a pleasure to have such loving wife! Your marriage is on a constant up-and-down, but you both still manage to make each other happy. Plus you have the most beautiful lady in your arms, it seems you are in heaven whenever you are with her, and you could not ask for anything more! Unfortunately, life turns in an unexpected event, you learned that she has a terminal cancer and she only have less than a year to live. Could you still say that you are satisfied and joyful?

Reality

My friend, most of the times, reality strikes in the most unexpected way. And the truth is that everything will soon pass away. Money could be lost in a one-day stay at the casino. Your house could be burned down instantly with a leak in the gas pipe. A simple act of scandal could ruin a reputation overnight. A one-night-stand causing an illicit affair could destroy a family.

It is interesting that the Bible, even if it was written thousands of years back, is still relevant to the modern age!

In John Chapter 4, there is this Samaritan woman who came to draw water from the well. Jesus asked for a drink. Then Jesus turned the conversation from the simple water from the well towards the "Living Water" that can really satisfy the longing of the heart.

Then Jesus asked the woman to bring her husband. Why do you think, of all He would ask, it was her husband? Because the deepest desire of that woman was to satisfy her heart with relationship. In fact, she already had five husbands, and the one she is with her now is not her husband!

Jesus Christ knows the deepest longing of the Samaritan woman's heart, and He knows yours too! Are you trying to fill in your heart with acquiring money, properties, fame, relationship, or any other things? Jesus said to the woman:

“Everyone who drinks of this water [the physical and temporary, things of this world] will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him [Jesus Christ Himself as the Living Water] will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:13-15

Friend, only Jesus Christ can really satisfy your heart. Everything will soon pass away. Talk to Him today, surrender your life, and desire for Him. Treasure Jesus Christ in your heart, and find joy in Him.

"God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him." - John Piper

© 2015 Erickson Ibana

Image found using Google Image Search: "heart" and "treasure"