Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (ESV)
When I was growing up, my family often described me as a hothead. It didn't take much to make me lose my temper. The most sensitive trigger for me was when someone questioned my plans. I would make it clear that once I had made a decision, any opposing view was wrong, and I would fiercely defend my stance.
Thankfully, I have matured since then. However, criticism still reveals that I have an exposed nerve. To avoid becoming overly reactive when criticized, I focus on developing the principle of navigation—specifically, the idea that navigators keep their emotions from clouding their vision.
To achieve this, I practice centering myself. I choose not to react immediately, but to breathe, observe (identify the underlying fear), and then make a decision. Am I successful every time? Not at all. But I am much better now than I was a year ago, significantly improved compared to five years ago, and a completely different person than I was 20 years ago.
If you act out of fear, you are not seeing the full picture; you are only focused on what scares you.
The only time it is acceptable to react out of fear is when you are in actual danger. Our fight-or-flight instinct exists for a reason. However, in our modern culture, it's rare for our fear to be triggered by something truly life-threatening. So, when fear arises, ask yourself, “Is this going to kill me?” If the answer is no, you likely have time to pause, look around, and decide.
There is one fear worth having: the fear of the Lord. This fear is about living in awe of Him and trusting that His rod and staff will comfort and guide you through life. When you feel fear, lean into God, knowing He is there to comfort and guide you and use your personal fear to grow closer to Him.
Go, outlive your limits!
Your Coach - Aaron Jones
P.S. Reach out to me or one of the Leadership Harbor coaches to set up a discovery coaching session or to join one of our fantastic leadership opportunities.
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