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Daily Question, August 8

What is something I’ve wanted that fear has prevented me from asking for?

  • k'Care-Reena

    WHAT IS SOMETHING IVE WANTED THAT FEAR HAS PREVENTED ME FROM ASKING FOR?

    Support. It is so weird because I usually ask for support however I was once afraid to share y emotions and if I was feeling sad I believed I had to MAKE MYSELF HAPPY on my own however recently I have noticed sharing my emotions has benefited me in so many ways. Similar to the movie INSIDE OUT I am understanding all emotions are essential and that your loved ones may assist to experience happiness and peace.

  • Michael Murphy

    To have a homeless person come and share my home.
    My family just wouldn’t agree with it, and couldn’t understand me asking for such a thing.

  • Malag
    This question for me resonates harshly for some reason "if only I wasn't [fearful or insert your poison] , then..." That's pressured to me and hasn't been helpful in the past. Fear can be a sensible protection from doing something stupid. It can also lack usefulness in some cases. I have recently become more conscious of how fear seasons my life at some level. I'm becoming more aware of when it is present and whether it is useful in a situation or part of an old protection now outlived. This is ...

    This question for me resonates harshly for some reason “if only I wasn’t [fearful or insert your poison] , then…” That’s pressured to me and hasn’t been helpful in the past. Fear can be a sensible protection from doing something stupid. It can also lack usefulness in some cases. I have recently become more conscious of how fear seasons my life at some level. I’m becoming more aware of when it is present and whether it is useful in a situation or part of an old protection now outlived. This is a gentler enquiry.

    Read More
  • Elaine

    Fear of (avoidance of) conflict prevents me from expressing hurt feelings to loved ones. I need the hurt to be recognized and am afraid to say so. It’s an unhealthy tendency I acknowledge.

    • Ana Maria

      Good morning to you! your comment moved me. I would say the same thing. Fear of (avoidance of) Paralyzes me. If only the people around me would know how painful their words or actions are to me. I know I am the only that can control how I feel, how I react to them. I know that for sure! But having to control ALL the time is exhausting! I am tired, mentally tired. My walks alone help me erase the pain.

  • Hot Sauce

    Part of me wants to incorporate ho’oponopono practice into my family life, but I’ve been afraid to ask my parents about this, as I’m scared they’ll think it’s stupid, especially since it requires for all of us to listen to each other, admit our wrongs, apologize, and forgive each other without any self-defending or excusing. .

  • sb

    I have become aware that when things are really bad, I am unable to talk about it or ask for help. Partly, I think because I close down even to myself, but partly because of fear – I don’t want to admit my weakness even to myself or lay myself open to either rejection or pity. I am more conscious of it now and am trying to make an effort but I’m not sure how much I can change.

  • Kayna
    Yesterday I hiked to the top of Council Crest in Portland, Oregon. It’s the highest point in the city where on a clear day, there are gorgeous mountain views. As I sat at the crest, a bicyclist came huffing and puffing up the hill, he parked his bike, strode to the center of the giant compass, outlined on the ground, threw his arms out wide, his face reaching toward the sun. I saw the opportunity to capture a powerful moment. I so wanted to offer to send the pic to him but feared rejection a...

    Yesterday I hiked to the top of Council Crest in Portland, Oregon. It’s the highest point in the city where on a clear day, there are gorgeous mountain views. As I sat at the crest, a bicyclist came huffing and puffing up the hill, he parked his bike, strode to the center of the giant compass, outlined on the ground, threw his arms out wide, his face reaching toward the sun. I saw the opportunity to capture a powerful moment. I so wanted to offer to send the pic to him but feared rejection as he didn’t struck me as lacking confidence and likely had countless photos of successes. So the photo sits, unseen in my phone.

    Read More
  • GratefulOne

    Gosh. What a question! I do not have an answer. I guess I will be pondering this one.

  • Mica

    I proposed to run a ‘virtual event’ about potassium, K+, at the origins of life, assuming I’d be rejected – and I was accepted! Then the fear set in.

    • Ana Maria

      I want to know more about potassium, K+! I am researching it! May you conquer your fear and share! Have a great day!

      • Mica

        Wow – thank you, dear Ana Maria! Why do living cells like our own have such high concentrations of potassium ions, K+, inside? The ocean has 40 times more sodium, Na+, than potassium, K+. Where, pray tell, was the potassium, K+, when life was getting started?

  • dcdeb

    I’d like to ask someone to help me put some sound therapy files up on youtube but am afraid to ask thinking that anyone i ask might say no.

    • Ana Maria

      Please do! We need more of you!

    • Mica

      I do hope you’ll ask, dcdeb – think of their usefulness to others, or whatever thoughts might give you the strength to make the leap 🤗💕

  • Howie Geib
    I read this question hours ago, and while I have been working (driving for Uber) I have been reflecting on it. I honestly can’t think of anything that ‘fear’ has prevented me from. Nothing obvious, as fear long ago ceased being a reason not to move forward, albeit with caution. However, doubt, which may be a way that fear is cloaked from my awareness, this has been a source of holding back many many times. The doubt that is rooted in a suspicion of my own motives, my abilities, my willingn...

    I read this question hours ago, and while I have been working (driving for Uber) I have been reflecting on it. I honestly can’t think of anything that ‘fear’ has prevented me from. Nothing obvious, as fear long ago ceased being a reason not to move forward, albeit with caution. However, doubt, which may be a way that fear is cloaked from my awareness, this has been a source of holding back many many times. The doubt that is rooted in a suspicion of my own motives, my abilities, my willingness to follow through. And my doubt in my own intelligence and wisdom. I often come to the conclusion that I am, alas, not up to the task. So, perhaps not living to my full potential. And, upon further reflection, I am OK with this. I want to be clear that I am not speaking of an unwillingness to fail. I am an inveterate risk taker. I do not hold back from difficult obligations of conscience or duty. No, it is that I am unwilling to risk hubris. To act out of an arrogance and false sense of entitlement.

    This may not speak to the question at all, I realize this. But I wanted to share it nonetheless, get it out of my head and to contribute to our discourse (which I value greatly).

    Happy Sunday all.

    Read More
  • Kosmos

    I’ve wanted to convene a family gathering and come out again to my family. This thought has made me realize that their validation and acceptance are one of my core values. The fear of being rejected again or not fully accepted as who I am has made me reflect on how I want to be loved, and how my ego is demanding for love. It has also made me aware of that the acceptance from them is one of my life wishes.

    • Ana Maria

      Because you are worthy of love. Blessings to you as your walk through life conquering their acceptance. One family member at a time.

  • Antoinette

    Fear hasn’t stopped me from asking for something. It may have probably when I was a child and a teenager. Becoming an adult and older isn’t always bad as much of our culture wants us to believe. The light of wisdom helps to embrace fear and gives courage to ask for help or whatever may be necessary.

  • Katrina

    For me it was not a matter of fear, but a matter of not knowing how to ask in an appropriate manner given a particular situation. It was not having the courage to ask and not worry about hurting someone else’s feelings, or being thought a fool, or making someone else angry. So I just kept quiet, or asked in what was maybe not the healthiest of ways.

  • Mary Pat
    I have worked on fear a good deal in my life, and now can't think of anything that prevents me from asking..... A long time ago I learnt that you can't go around it, above it or beneath it, you have to go through it to get to the other side. There is a children's story that perfectly illustrates this called We Are Going On A Bear Hunt. I have written about it before. I remember many years ago reading it to one of my grandchildren, and realizing this was for me, as much as for him. The phrase ...

    I have worked on fear a good deal in my life, and now can’t think of anything that prevents me from asking….. A long time ago I learnt that you can’t go around it, above it or beneath it, you have to go through it to get to the other side. There is a children’s story that perfectly illustrates this called We Are Going On A Bear Hunt. I have written about it before. I remember many years ago reading it to one of my grandchildren, and realizing this was for me, as much as for him. The phrase about going through it spoke to me. I still remember that Ah ha! moment….
    It was a very difficult time in my life, filled with fear and anxiety. For some reason I connected to that phrase. What I was facing was as big as a bear to me. And I knew I had to go through it if I ever wanted to be free of it.
    Here is the YouTube video of the story. Although I didn’t end up hiding from my “bear”, I did learn to face it through this story.
    Interesting how our minds connect with something, and we see it as fitting our situation, even though it may not.
    ….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gyI6ykDwds

    Read More
    • Patricia

      Thanks for reminding me of the story! I actually just listened to this story on a Classic Kids Stories podcast two weeks ago with my 4 1/2 year old granddaughter. She wanted to hear it again (and again)! Yep, gotta go through it!

  • sunnypatti
    The past 5/6 years, I have gotten better at overcoming my fears and asking for what I want. First and foremost being respect. My ex did not respect me at all. I prayed for him to be a better man and do his part in our relationship, but he never did. Yet I hung on. And suffered. And at a really low point, I just thought I wasn't meant for anything better, that it was my karma to live a crappy life with this person. As I sunk even lower, however, something was said to me by his aunt that made me s...

    The past 5/6 years, I have gotten better at overcoming my fears and asking for what I want. First and foremost being respect. My ex did not respect me at all. I prayed for him to be a better man and do his part in our relationship, but he never did. Yet I hung on. And suffered. And at a really low point, I just thought I wasn’t meant for anything better, that it was my karma to live a crappy life with this person. As I sunk even lower, however, something was said to me by his aunt that made me see the light, and it was then that I knew that God wanted me to be happy, that I did not have to suffer, that I could make a better choice for myself. So I did. It was not easy because I was in that relationship almost 18 years. I wanted respect, freedom, love, joy… and I asked God and myself for those things first, and in the process now ask for it from everyone else. I learned to love me, and that changed everything.

    Read More
    • Mary Pat

      I am so happy for you. It takes real courage to take that step. May your new life continue to be filled with much love and laughter.

  • Michele

    I have no answer for this question this morning. Looking forward to reading others responses.

  • devy
    I’m presently sitting in a holding spot flying above the clouds waiting to make a decision on what to do In regards to my marriage. It’s just that I still love this person in spite of her behaviour, knowing people that her behaviour and thoughts like mine, stem from a very dysfunctional upbringing. We’ve been together for 20 years, married for 14 and I’m just afraid to jump the gun in case things pan out. We went through difficulties 10 years ago and worked it out. My wife decided then s...

    I’m presently sitting in a holding spot flying above the clouds waiting to make a decision on what to do In regards to my marriage. It’s just that I still love this person in spite of her behaviour, knowing people that her behaviour and thoughts like mine, stem from a very dysfunctional upbringing. We’ve been together for 20 years, married for 14 and I’m just afraid to jump the gun in case things pan out. We went through difficulties 10 years ago and worked it out. My wife decided then she she wanted me. It’s a tough call for me especially since I know that she does care about me..besides the emotional toll a separation I am also realizing the economic result. I’m living very comfortable now and for me to leave would be financially difficult… I am continuing on with my daily gratefulness for what I have and trying to reprogram my thinking so that even if I will struggle emotionally and financially that I will be grateful for what I have and who I am.

    Read More
    • Mica

      Yes – I remember that stage, devy – asking myself, ‘why should we have 2 houses, 2 yards to maintain, etc etc.?’

    • Dusty Su

      May you have the wisdom and a deep conviction to know what you should do. And may it all be good in the end for you, Devy.

  • DeVonna

    Unlike our friend, Kevin, I have been halted in my tracks by fear on many occasions. Like Dusty Su, I have allowed things/people to remain in my life, out of fear of speaking up and acting on my convictions. I think the thing I’ve most wanted, is simple respect. In the past I’ve not known how to express that, but because of all I’ve experienced in life, I may be in a place where I can command that.

  • Kevin

    Fear has never prevented me from asking for what I want.

    • Dusty Su

      That’s so great and what makes a good advocate for others too.

    • DeVonna

      Wow…Kevin. I can not relate. But I sense a sort of confidence in yourself that I lack. Good for you!

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