I invite your willingness to explore. You have only strength and success to gain.

Here are some examples of themes we all know too well:

I can’t quite breakthrough to financial success I default to fear and lack I always feel overwhelmed and exhausted and out of time Procrastination is my middle name I walk up to edge of a challenge and then back away I avoid

I would suggest that behind every common theme, you have a rule. For example, if you’re like Sarah and you can’t breakthrough to financial success, you might have a rule that says, “People that make money, sell out.” Or, if you are constantly procrastinating, you might have a rule that says, “If I succeed, I’ll wind up alone.” (Maybe you experienced a parent who worked a lot, and was unhappy and you concluded that success = unhappiness).

Explore where your rules came from by asking: When did rule get created? What were circumstances? Ask, if you were to change that rule, what would happen? Who would be upset? Who would get hurt or feel betrayed?

Take heart, you created your rules for a good reason. We all create meaning about life from our experiences and then create rules to keep us safe, secure and sane. The problem comes when we neglect to inquire or challenge current validity of our rules.

You have ability to move beyond your limited rules by becoming aware of them, disqualifying them, (if they don’t serve you), and then by making new rules based on your current reality. I challenge you to give it a try.

As for Sarah, she created a new rule that says she can be financially successful, maintain her values, fulfill her dream and express her passion in world. What’s YOUR new rule?

It’s your life…live it completely!

Failure He stuttered. He stammered. He endured sympathetic and scornful looks of fellow students. He endured laughing. But he did it. He faced fear and forced himself to speak. Day after day. Week after week. He hung onto encouragement of teacher who believed in him. And it worked. His stuttering became less. He learned to control his voice.

Responsibility His victories made him look for more challenges. James Earl began to take acting lessons. His early lessons in perseverance gave him courage to push beyond prejudices against black actors. He chose to take as many different types of roles as he could – stretching his limitations and refusing to be pigeon-holed with any stereotypes.

Beyond Fear James Earl Jones is now known for his deep authoritative voice. Perhaps you know him as voice of Star War’s Darth Vader or as Mufasa in Lion King. You see him almost daily on commercials. He has starred on Broadway and been in many movies. He has been laden with Tony, Emmy and Obie Awards.

People look at him today and see a confident actor with a deep, resonant voice. The next time you see him, look deeper. . .

James Earl Jones’ great secret to success is that he chose to push beyond his fears. He chose to change reality of a young boy who had lived in silence for eight years. He chose to face ridicule and scorn in order to be free. I can only imagine how many years passed before he could open his mouth without being afraid of what would come out.

So many of us let our fears stop us. We’re afraid of how we will appear. We’re afraid of what people will think. We’re afraid we’ll fail. And so.

. . we do nothing. We exchange fear for regret.

Fear will pass. Fear can be conquered. Fear will fade away in face of determined action.

Regret – well, you’ll live with that for rest of your life.

What are you afraid of? Name fear. Choose to face it. And take action to conquer it today! You, too, can live a life of success by feeling fear and moving beyond it.