Make facing your fear a habit-knit part of your life. Consciously and continuously take steps to chip away at that fear. Look at every situation or task that induces fear in you as a challenge, or an opportunity for you to become more than you are today. To become more of what you want to be.

Last but not least – this one has almost said itself…

3.Do what you fear and that fear’s demise is certain. At risk of repeating myself - do what you fear over and over again and your fear will lose its hold on you. A perfect example comes to mind. For many, public speaking is a number one fear. I have been a member of an outstanding Toastmasters International Club in Atlanta for 7+ years. In our weekly meetings we watch those that would never willingly get up in front of an audience and speak overcome that fear. They do so by taking a little step closer each week. First they get up and answer a simple impromptu question – a quick thirty-second answer and they rush back to their seat. Next time they will give a two to three minute speech about themselves. Shortly after that a three to four minute speech on a topic they are passionate about. Step by step they build their skills and remove chokehold that fear of public speaking had upon their lives and their careers. Take what you fear and break it down, face it step by step until you are one empowered.

Zig Ziglar said it quite well in a presentation I attended, “Fear = F.E.A.R or False Evidence Appears Real.” Time and time again you have thought about taking action that you fear. Your mind ran through all possible outcomes positive and negative. Then your imagination, fed by your fear, led you further down negative path. Thus feeding your fear again. Leading you further down negative path… I’m sure you see pattern developing here. Break that pattern! Turn and face your fear! Take conscious and continuous steps towards it, as often as you can, until you are one with control.

Think successfully! Tracy

As a client told me, if God had told him 21 years ago he'd give him Joshua, so much happiness and pleasure, and then take him away in 21 years, he would still "take deal."

I'm humbled by this client who now must measure depth of pleasure with depth of his sorrow. Crises give meaning to pat phrases we’ve read. When I got phone call my son was in ICU and not expected to live, Churchill’s words came to me, "This will be our finest hour." I knew I might be called upon to endure every Mother’s nightmare, and if he died, and I survived it, and thrived again, it would require my soul’s resources.

It’s terrifying to keep loving with all your heart and soul in face of loss, and it is also antidote. The greater loss, thing to fear more, would be not to fully love when we could’ve.

We learn to forgive, by forgiving. We learn to love, by loving. We learn compassion, by being compassionate. And we learn to survive loss, by surviving loss. There's no other way.