Fear

“Drive out fear” was number 8 in Dr. Deming’s "14 points to save American industry."  Fear is a like a disease, a virus, a cancer that destroys the fundamental foundation of an organization.  Fear has been used and abused by our parents - wanting us to behave, by our teachers – in their attempt to make us listen to them and learn, and by our managers to force us to obey and follow their commands.  Fear is a destructive force, eats out our creativity and must be driven out of the workplace.

In this economic depressive climate, fear is being used to sell newspapers, to make us watch the TV news, to vote for certain politicians and to keep us subdued.

When I was very young, I was afraid of so many things: ghosts in the closet of my bedroom and buglers climbing up the side of our house with a ladder.  I would hide under the blankets, insist that the bedroom light stay on, chew on my pajama collar and make my grandmother sit in the room until I fell asleep.

At work, I was always afraid of getting fired.

This fear that we carry with us must stop.  It is not real.  Reality is what happens to us not what might happen to us. We worry about what might happen not what does happen.  For in truth, you can handle everything that happens to you.  You have done it your whole life.  You solved all of your past problems or you wouldn’t be here now.  Sure you might not have enough money, but worrying about it will not solve the problem.

So, just stop worrying.  Just tell that “crazy brain,” of yours to “buzz off.”  And make sure that every day you are learning something new.  Put your energy in to building your skills.  Do what you can do to have a great life and stop worrying about what you don’t have or what might happen.