In his inaugural address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt told Americans, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
William “Bud” Hart, of Haverhill, shares “Success Principles”—ideas for living a greater, better and more accomplished life, and building habits that stick. He also coaches clients to incorporate strategies for boosting their mental and physical performance during everyday living.
The year 1932 was a stormy one in U.S. history and I’m not talking about the weather. The hearts, minds and spirits of the American people had been taken over by the mounting “Great Depression.” Politicians seemed unable to end the crisis. Food lines were growing. Angry country farmers were gathering into heated mobs. And President Herbert Hoover himself, nearing the end of his term, expressed a deep sense of hopelessness and despair saying, “We are at the end of our rope. There is nothing more we can do.”
We often regard fear like it’s this massive beast living on a mountain we hope to climb, an obstacle. Some of us even look at fear like a monster hiding under the bed ready to attack, keeping us awake, tired and anxious; a frightening object or a nightmare.
Thousands of books and articles have been written to help us overcome fear, so many that it seems unnecessary to say more. But here is something you may not have thought much about. In every life fear is a given. Fear is normal and healthy, and it should not be the monster you stay under the covers to avoid.
The real problem with fear is not that it exists, it is learning to recognize it, harness it and work through it. Fear can yield some very powerful results.
Just consider President Hoover’s nightmare. His limitations and anguish, paved the way for Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s (FDR’s) presidential victory in 1932. As a man FDR had already suffered and overcome his own worst personal fear, being diagnosed with poliomyelitis (polio) 11 years earlier. As president he was able to quash the sense of fear and hopelessness that permeated the nation.
FDR knew there were few things worse than the condition of paralyzing fear. In his inaugural address he delivered these powerful words, “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.”
What could possibly be worse than the nightmarish fear monster you ask? Hiding under the covers!
William “Bud” Hart is a certified “Mindset” Coach, Accountability Partner and Business Consultant. Founder of Hart Group, www.hartgroupma.com.