Today we will be talking about the top 10 fears holding you back from your purpose in life. If would like to know more about freedom from fear, I invite you watch the video above.
- Fear of Public Speaking
- Fear of Loneliness
- Fear of Missing Out- aka FOMO
- Fear of Failure
- Fear of Success
- Fear of Loss.
- Fear of being Judged aka What Will People Think?
- Fear of Fear Itself
- Fear of the Unknown
- Fear of Death
You may be like me and have a brain chemical struggle with anxiety. That is no fault of your own, but there are many ways to improve that diagnosis and live your best life. Medication and professional therapy can help with overcoming anxiety to live your life without fear.
For me, meditating on scripture and praying the moment I wake up gets me off to a day of trusting that God will order my day according to His best purpose for my life. This allows me to have peace about being able to handle what today will bring. It provides joy and excitement for what the future holds no matter what the current world situation or scary news reports are telling me. Time spent with God motivates me to forgive the mistakes of yesterday and move on to the possibilities of today.
Top 10 Fears Holding You Back from Your Purpose in Life
1. Fear of Public Speaking
If you are a person who loves the limelight and has the desire to be the center of attention, then you can pass over this one! You are in a special category of people who can quickly think on their feet and are energized by holding the attention of a group. We need you to help convey what people need and want to know. We will even pay you to teach or entertain us while we watch from the safety of the crowd!
You are Normal!
It turns out that most of us would rather most anything than have to stand (or sit) in front of a group of people and deliver a talk. Call it fear of failure, anxiety, shyness, being an introvert or any other word or enneagram you want to use. I’m going to call it normal and say that the public speakers have a special calling.
So no worries if you have an aversion. You are like the majority and congratulations and thank you if you fall into the category of public speakers that we know and love.
2. Fear of Loneliness
It is a rare person who prefers to be alone all of the time. We have been created by God to need one another. Community is important to our mental, physical, and emotional well being.
That is one of the reasons that substance abuse has increased during this time of sheltering and isolation because of the Covid-19 health crisis. Maybe we can begin to view this forced isolation as an opportunity to become a team for the greater good.
Use technology to stay connected
Perhaps we can use technology for good instead of falling into the dark vortex of pornography or online gambling. Instead of wallowing in the despair of loneliness and lack of human touch, let’s reach out to everyone within our reach using the same technology might lead us down a path that is hard to overcome.
Connect with people who will love you!
Call people, text, email. Start a family chat and talk throughout the day. Use FaceTime, ZOOM and other apps to see your friends and family face to face. If you are all alone and have no connection to anyone, find a local church at the bottom of this page. You can become involved and find people who will love and care for you, and you for them.
3. Fear of Missing Out- aka FOMO
FOMO has become one the greatest mental and emotional detriments our society has experienced. At least in my humble opinion. Our younger generation is probably the most affected, but I must admit to feeling less than, excluded, boring, a failure, unexciting, etc, every time I check FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social platforms.
You have so much to offer!
Even though I watch people go from dull and average to “wow, look what a great time we are all having!” just to get the “perfect” photo to put on social media, my spirit is affected. Even though my brain knows that what people portray on social media is only a snapshot of what they want us to think their life is like, my emotions get the best of me. Does this ever happen to you?
It breaks my heart that people are missing out on living their best lives while watching other people create an image that no real person can attain. I am not against connecting on social media. I am not opposed to influencers earning a living by building a following. I follow a lot of Instagram and YouTube accounts and appreciate their hard work!
You have a purpose in life!
I just hope and pray that your life is not limited because of trying to live your life in the image of filters, lighting, professional makeup and hair, and small snippets of content that don’t represent the mundane in each person’s life. You have a purpose and your life can have meaning beyond your hopes and dreams. Watch the video on this page to find out more about how to find purpose in you life.
4. Fear of Failure
Who among us has totally conquered this fear? If you say you have, then please teach us your ways!
First borns and people with ADHD often fall into this category. Creatives and geniuses often live here as well. Those with hard driving parents often suffer fear of failure, and I think most of us have been there at least a few times.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison.
Remember the saying “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” I am part of a team of people that are working on an overwhelming global pursuit. I would never have thought that I was built for such a thing. I prefer home time with my family over being a part of running something bigger than I can even wrap my head around.
Guess what? You have help and hope!
My team and I all fear that we will fail. We are simply human! However, I firmly believe that is our purpose for this time and that God is going before us, behind us, all around us, and I know that his spirit lives within us. I know that in my weakness he is strong and that all things are possible with God. He will be with you too if you will ask him.
Even if you are afraid, you are not alone
If you want to know that God is with you, please watch the free gift video on this page and then connect with us. The fear of failure is a normal human response. God wants to help you conquer the fear that is holding you back from your purpose in life. All you have to do is ask!
Lots of us let fear hold us back from our best lives
5. Fear of Success
Conversely, many people suffer from the fear of success.
What if I make my college basketball team? What if my boss chooses me to run with this idea?
What if I get that promotion even though I don’t feel prepared? What if I finally become a mother? A father?
What if my dream comes true? What then? What will this require of me?
How hard will I have to work? Will I be able to handle all that come with success? What if success ends up not being enough for me?
What if I let everyone down? What if I don’t have what it takes? What if people don’t like me?
What if I fail?
You can see that the fear of failure and the fear of success might go hand in hand.
One requires nothing of us and the other requires more than we might want to give. One leaves us feeling unfulfilled and the other leaves us worrying that maybe all of the effort won’t pay off, leaving us – well – unfulfilled.
But hey, No pressure!
So what do we do? We move forward toward the calling on our lives. We follow that passion that drives us. If we will establish a relationship with Jesus Christ and let our purpose be to follow him and use our talents, passions, gifts and energy to his good will, then the pressure is off of us! He will use us to accomplish great and mighty things that will impact our world in better ways than we can imagine. And we get to experience great pleasure and fulfillment in being a part of the greatest team on earth!
It doesn’t all depend on you!
6. Fear of Loss
I have to admit that this one gets a hold on me sometimes. I fear losing the ones I love. My family is everything to me. We are blessed with a bond that is unbreakable. We are each other’s best friends and have so much love and fun together. I know that they are in God’s hands and that I have no control, but I ask God daily to keep them safe and well. I ask him to go before them, behind them, be all around them, and thank him that they have all asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. You can have this same peace. Watch the video on this page to find out how!
Even when the old anxiety enemy shows up
I am confidant because of that that decision and God’s promise that we will all be together in heaven, but that old anxiety enemy tries to make me go to what ifs of losing one of them.
You may share that fear, or yours may different. Perhaps you fear losing your job, your marriage, your kids, your home, your status, your health, your youth, your life, your judgment, you authority, your sanity, or maybe something else. Maybe even all of the above.
And that’s great news!
We are frail humans and fear tries so hard to have a hold on us. Did you know that the Bible contains a vast amount of verses that say do not fear? God does not want us to fear. He wants us to trust him. So the next time fear tries to overcome your mind, ask God to help you trust him. His peace will come over you as you give your worries to him.
7. Fear of being Judged aka What Will People Think?
This can also fall under the category of having social anxiety, which is a treatable condition. Most of us, if we are honest, have at least some fear of being judged by others. It can be a crippling obstacle to conquering fears holding you back from your purpose in life. The more power you give the opinions of other people, the more likely you will fear being judged. While we need to consider others, value others, and love others, we are not meant to be controlled by others.
You get to choose!
8. Fear of Fear Itself
If you have ever had an anxiety attack you will understand the fear of fear better someone who hasn’t. I spent a year of my life fighting anxiety attack after anxiety attack. I got so used to them that I could have a conversation with someone during one, and they would have no idea that I felt like I was about to die.
I sought help from my doctor who told me that my brain chemicals needed to be balanced and then my thought pathways rewired. I am on the other side of getting help, and I highly recommend you seek help today if you are suffering from anxiety. You don’t have to live with it! I am living proof!
You have nothing to fear except fear itself!
9. Fear of the Unknown
The current Covid-19 pandemic is the perfect example of the unknown. The world has never encountered this virus before. We have no immunity or reliable treatment or vaccine. We don’t even have any idea how far reaching it has grown because we don’t have adequate testing in place.
You may be old enough to have lived through something like this and are proof that we will come out on the other side. You may be young enough that you have never experienced anything like this in your lifetime. The truth is, at any given time in our lives, the future is completely unknown! Even if you are having the time of your life, the next moment lives in the unknown.
So get Excited!
The great thing is that all of the good things ahead fo you live in the unknown! Your next happiest time of your life is in the void of the unknown! Most of the time your greatest fears never happen, so maybe you can change your way of thinking! Instead of fearing the unknown, get excited about the wonderful possibilities that lie head of you on your path to overcoming the top 10 fears holding you back from your purpose in life!
10. Fear of Death
This is another fear that is common to us all. Very few of us look forward to dying. Some of us fear the separation from our loved ones we will leave behind. Some of us fear missing out on the things we are living for in the present and the future things we won’t experience here on this earth.
Things are going to better!
Maybe we are afraid of the actual way we will die. Will it be painful? Will I be awake? Will it be a ongoing disease that slowly takes my life? What actually happens when I die? Where do I go when I die?
There is hope for you!
Is Heaven real? Is Hell real? Will I be judged? Is there hope for me? The good news is that you can know for sure that you will live in Heaven forever if you ask God to forgive your sins and accept the gift of eternal life through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You can pray this prayer right now!
God, I don’t know You, and I don’t know what Your plan is for me. But I’m sorry for anything I’ve ever done wrong in my life. I don’t understand how You could ever forgive me, but if You really would, I would like to accept your free gift of grace and complete forgiveness. Thank you for sending your son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place. Please come into my life and take control, and help me trust You.
You are here for a reason!
There is a great calling on your life. Watch the video below and find what is is to have a brand new life in Jesus Christ. Find complete forgiveness of your sins, no matter how unforgivable you find them yourself.
Jesus paid for them all and God will remove them as far as the east is from the west. He will completely forgive you and forget all of your past! All of it! He will live within you and help you overcome the fears that are holding you back form your best life!
Live your best life!
You can read 10 Resilience Steps to find more help with your life.
