Fear Itself

In 1933, new President Franklin D. Roosevelt used his first inaugural address to reassure an America mired in the Great Depression that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

“This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

You can hear it here (1:00 in) if you wish…

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/audio/8_5_7_a_FDRFirstInaug_MSTR.mp3

FDR was right back then and he’s still right today. History DOES repeat itself and once again we find our nation roiled by a paralyzing pandemic. People are fearful… Of losing their job, their business, their health care, even their lives. I have clients afraid to step outside, frozen at home in fear, the fear all too much for them and real for them all at the same time.

It’s okay to fear. But remember the little girl afraid of the dark, only to have her Father turn on the light and show her there is no monster under the bed. We need to shine that same simple light on our pandemic fears, for they are only as big as we build them up to be. Do not give them that power. It’s your power. Only you wield it. 

Smile. Be grateful for what you have. Don’t let the fear take over. Take over the fear.

It’s been said President Roosevelt knew the first name of every person who worked in his White House and greeted all warmly. It’s also said he would read the comics to his countrymen to lighten their spirits.

He was right about that, too. We need to lighten up. We already know whatever we focus on grows. Let’s not cultivate our fears. Let’s banish them from our consciousness.

The acronym for fear is False Evidence Appearing Real.

False evidence. Appearing. real. Fear IS false. Fear is not real. Don’t fear. Have faith.

Worry less. Pray more. Vision more. Master your thoughts. Think bigger. Be greater.

Have more faith than fear. Fear is just an emotion. It can only hurt you if you let it. 

So don’t. Just remember this: “The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.”

And this… “Always, always go where the love is” -- Susan