What is Fear? People have learned to interpret fear as something to be afraid of or move away from. Even people with great promise and astounding potential somehow misunderstand what fear really is and avoid its lesson. Thoreau says it best: "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with a song still in them." Is it possible that we've been misled about what/ear really is? Is it possible ihni fear has been our friend all this time, and that we've somehow missed its true lesson? The real truth is that fear is just trapped energy that doesn't know how to escape. We need to give it a "voice", a way to express itself. In other words, since fear is our teacher, we can listen for its intent—the reason for the fear—instead of getting caught up in the feelings of fear. The Spirit Inside Last summer. I was in Minneapolis speaking at the Parker Seminar. I was given the honor of opening the seminar on Thursday afternoon. It was the first time I had been in that special time slot, which had traditionally belonged to Dr. James W. Parker. He had always begun his talks with inspirational messages...molding the minds of many of today's masters in our profession. When I had been asked to open the Parker Seminar. I just enthusiastically said. "Yes!" It wasn't until, perhaps, an hour before I was to speak that the reality of what I was about to do hit me. I remember being up in my hotel room getting dressed and preparing my mind for my talk, when I began feeling a little strange. I began thinking about the fact that it would be my responsibility to set the tone lor the entire weekend. For the first time in many years. I felt inadequate; and, for a moment. thought about just getting in a hot bath and curling up in the fetal position. "These aren't just ■butterflies" in my stomach." I thought to myself. "I always get 'butterflies', and have for years! This is real FEAR! What could this mean'.' Had I finally gone too far?" I sat down on the edge of the bed. and got in touch with my feelings, taking a deep breath. I felt a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. So. I took another breath, and made a connection with the Spirit inside me. What came to me next was a revelation. The first thing I had to do was to get in charge of ihe moment. Self-talk is what sets your attitude, and self-talk was what had gotten me in this present dilemma. Self-talk can put you in a negative, as well as positive present time consciousness. I was in a present time NEGATIVE STATE of consciousness, moments before 1 had to face over 500 of my peers, who had arrived to be inspired. "OH. MY GOD! CAN I DO IT?" The way to empower yourself is by asking yourself questions. The key is to ask questions which empower you rather than dis-empower you. Can I do this? is not an empowering ques- tion! It only makes things worse. The question I then asked myself was. "Who am I here to serve?" If I am here to serve myself, then my present behavior is probably appropriate. That was all I could think about. "Am I good enough?" And the obvious answer was. "NO!" A principle for success I have adopted is...to truly succeed you must not be obsessed with making money, but with serving and/or adding value to another human being. When you serve another unselfishly. "The Law of Giving" is set in operation. The more you give of yourself, without expectation of return, the more good will come back to you. often from the most unexpected sources. You will truly be happy when you feel that you are making a real difference in the world by sen ing others in some way. So I asked myself the question. "Who am I here to serve?" And that truth became my new present time consciousness. "I'm here to deliver a message. If I benefit only one person that truly needs a new perspective, then I will have succeeded. My talk is not about me. It is about honestly trying to make a difference." As I began seeing, in my mind, the importance of what I was to do. and that the importance was not about my being comfortable, but about reaching another fellow chiropractor. I realized (in a new present time consciousness, ; brought on by positive self talk) that : my fear was gone. : What struck me, then, was that the i anxiety I had felt was really the kid- i spirit within me. The "little kid" inside ; all of us gets excited about a new opportunity, because it's new! I had ! gotten the knots in my stomach con- ; fused with FEAR {i.e.. False Evidence | Appearing Real), rather than excite- ! ment. As I got in touch with this reve- I lation, it excited me even more! I There is always a good side to every \ situation. Stay optimistic and try to | sec opportunities in your challenges. I Don"t be pessimistic and see chal- | lenges in your opportunities. View ] every problem as an opportunity. And j remember, fear really has a positive I intention to help us grow. How often j do we misinterpret this intention? j How could your life be different, if j you chose to listen and truly feel the I intention that your fear has for you? j Having, once again, come to terms I with my fear in this instance. I smiled, took a deep breath, and left my hotel room. On the way down in the eleva- i lor. 1 smiled to myself. I smiled because I felt complete. 1. then, went on to give one of the best presentations \ of my lite. j Dr. Bruce A. Parker has been a chi- ' ropractor for 25 years. He owned and operated 10 practices in California. He is one of the most inspiring and knowledgeable speakers in chiroprac- \ tic today. He is president of Parker Practice Success, a national consulting Jinn that provides all aspects of chiropractic practice management and seminars. He specializes in "coaching" (personally working with each doctor) and the Business of Chiropractic to achieve financial freedom. He has authored numerous books, including QuickStart for new graduates. He is also qualified as an expert witness in practice sales/purchase disputes. You may contact Dr. Parker at: (888) 568-5156. or by fax at (909) 676-3476; e-mail: drp@iinet. WWW.your-siicce.ss-coach.com m
