“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” -Rosa Parks

What is it that you want right now? There is an abundance of time, money, and notoriety out there for you to go and take if you have the work ethic or right idea, so why aren’t you quitting your job right now and doing what you have always dreamed of being able to do?

The answer to this question for most of us is our fear of the unknown. Humans like security a lot, even if it comes at the cost of some freedom. (I think that someone important talked about that once).

My 1 ½ year old son does not seem to have this problem. Whenever he sets his sights on a goal he loses any semblance of fear.

If his cup is on a tall table and he wants a drink, he will climb any object (stable or not) to get to the cup.

If a ball rolls into heavy traffic and nobody is there to stop him, he will chase the ball.

If there is a cat that he wants to pet, he will pet the cat (no matter the size or likelihood of rabidity).

I have realized that the boy will go after whatever he wants with intensity. If he wants to get his hands on something, chances are he will find a way to make it happen.

When did I lose that ferocity in my decision making? When did you?

Why do we let fear hold us in a state of complacency and refuse to make the decisions that we know will increase our effect on those around us and subsequently, our success?

Studies show that my son will probably lose his valiant disregard for consequences in the near future.

Most children learn fairly early on that heights are dangerous and that gravity is one law of physics that should not be tampered with. See some information on the Glass Bridge and Visual Cliff study by Eleanor J. Gibson and R.D. Walk from Cornell University here.

They theorized and found that children less than one year old will avoid crossing transparent and apparently elevated bridges regardless of coaxing by the child’s mother on the other side of the bridge. The child will refuse to go to the individual who has always loved and cared for them in order to neutralize the risk of a fall. The older a child gets, the more likely they are to avoid the risk of a high elevation.

We all learn early in life to avoid risks and we continue to operate by the same learned rules as adults. We will avoid going to a place of joy and happiness to keep from failure or the risk of falling.

Don’t you agree that the children from the study would be better served ignoring their doubts and going to where they know there is happiness? Isn’t that better than them sitting by themselves just waiting for something to happen? I know that I do.

So my question to you is this:

What dream or goal is calling to you from across a chasm of doubt? Don’t you agree that you will be better served ignoring your doubts and doing something in life that gives you the fulfillment that you desire and the impact that others are longing for? Isn’t that better than just waiting for something to happen?

The answer is yes. Now go make it happen.