28 Feb 2018 How Have I Had Fear?

Have I Had Fear?

Fear is a part of confidence. There is fear thinking about what might happen in the future, and there is fear in events happening in the moment. The first fear is more of a mind game. That is, you may have a fear of flying and you think up scenarios that have negative potentials. These mind fears don’t have a physical aspect to them, or at least that is what I think.

Then there are the times when you are in a situation that the fear transitions to actually impacting you physically. You are on a plane now and it is going through turbulence. Your heart rate and blood pressure are probably up, maybe even way up. You could even be hyperventilating. This fear brings about these challenges because it is happening right now to you and is not something that could happen later.

It is very difficult to tell someone to calm down when every sensory input is giving them very heightened signals. In this case, until the turbulence subsides the person may not be able to come down.

I wouldn’t want to go into battle with someone who says he is fearless. To me that person would be reckless. Fear has its place in everyone. I haven’t yet to meet anyone who when asked and is honest will not relate a situation where they felt fear.

In my youth when flying for the Navy there were many times at night when the weather was bad. We still had can land the plane on the aircraft carrier. Hell, just about every night landing brought with it some level of fear, evening cloudless full moon nights.

How this fear was dealt with was I was so concentrated on flying the plane that the voice in my head could not get a word in. The moment I trapped on board the ship, a big relief came over me. The fear was forgotten. As we used to say “we cheated death again.”

I think the difference between my fear during night landings and someone whose fear of flying is amplified during turbulence was I was in control of the plane whereas the other person was riding along.

Where is my fear that brings the physical aspect? It is when I am up on a ladder or walking on the roof of my house, yes, a fear of heights. Sounds funny that I can be up in a plane and have no fear looking down but put me on the edge of my roof even 10 feet off the ground and my heart rate is up.

To me the most destructive fears are those of the mind about something that may happen in the future. Those fears can stop you from trying something. I know it has for me. The fear of failing was almost crippling. I could talk myself into what I thought was a worst case, when in fact it really wasn’t one.

How have I addressed those types of fears? I guess it was just the realization that not trying meant automatic failure with no chance of success.

Fear of the future battle I have with that voice in my head has not gone away. The voice just doesn’t control me like it had in the past. Now if I can just stop my heart from racing when on the roof, then I will be making progress.

27 Feb 2018 What Do You Think Of Colin Kaepernick?

What Do You Think Of Colin Kaepernick?

There was a lot of media coverage about Collin sitting down during the national anthem. This is what the 1st Amendment is all about. If he chooses to sit, he can sit. I will defend to the end his right to do this. Do I agree with how we went about it, not really. But that is irrelevant. Do I think his messages important, very much so. What is also important to understand is that there are consequences for expressing one’s freedom of speech.

The consequences are other people expressing their right to how they feel about his actions. Two his many distractors I ask, if you had an opportunity to express your outrage over something you felt deeply about, and you had a chance to make people talk about the issue, what better way could have chosen?

I also would ask the distractors if his message needs addressing?  To Mr. Kaepernick I ask, what was your intent? You did the easy part, easy being adding your voice to the chorus. You made you’re feelings know, now what? What actions are you going to take to be part of the solution? We need solutions. We need people who are going to make me effort at the ground level to improve things.

I hope people cherish the 1^st Amendment. It is the cornerstone of democracy. You may not agree what someone says, however, you should be outraged if they are prevented from saying it.

Freedom of speech it Is vital. But so is Justice. You may not like how he went about voicing his views, but ask yourself did what he say highlight a problem that needs to be talked about and fixed?  I do.

26 Feb 2018 Why Do I Put Things Off?

Why Do I Put Things Off?

How many times have I said I was going to start something and then said I will do it “in just a bit?” That bit of time grew, and I didn’t start. Or I did start but plan to finish it “in a bit.” I’ve found that scheduling is important for me to get things done. I can’t take that “I will get to it” attitude.

Sometime I do get started and crank away.. It is the finishing that has been a challenge. I would get 80% done with something and put it aside instead of scheduling time to finish it. It would linger on or I had to cram to finish it before deadline.

I have mastered the art of putting off. I could use the excuse that I work better under pressure of a deadline, but I would just be kidding myself. I work better when I concentrate on the task at that moment.

“In a bit” has taken on life from days to months.

Not every task has to be completed from start to finish. However, if I did not finish and I will “in a bit” is not the right way to go.

I need to schedule the time to continue or complete the task. I have to have a plan that provides some guidance. Yes, the plan can change. However, I at least started in the direction that leads to accomplishing things. It is still a challenge, but I am working every day to not do things in “just a bit.”