The Terror Barrier--How to Smash Through
Apr 19, 2021
"If you want something in life that you've never had, you're going to have to do something you've never done."
--JD Houston
About 3 months ago, I was wondering in my quiet time, "Should I facilitate a retreat based on my book, 'Fruitful Leadership: Leading by The Fruit of The Spirit'?" I wrote down my thoughts in my journal..."What if I've never held a retreat before? What if I can't figure out how to do it? What if nobody comes? What if I can't find a place to have it? I have no clue how long it should be. What if...? Nah...too many unknowns for me."
I sat there for a moment. I crossed out those statements in my journal and wrote, "Wait a minute, I've facilitated impactful two day custom workshops before. I've planned successful fundraising banquets for 300 people. What if I nail it? What if it's an epic success?"
There's a different way to think about doing something we've never done. "What ifs" are not truth. Negative "what ifs" are just statements that our brain makes up to keep us in our comfort zone. What ifs are thoughts to keep us from getting hurt. We bump up against limitations that we have created in our minds.
Those self-created limitations are called the Terror Barrier. The Terror Barrier lurks just outside the comfort zone waiting to pounce. It's that feeling of dread or the certainty that we are doomed if we try the thing we want to attempt. It's that feeling a man gets when he wants to ask a woman out on a date. It's that feeling that we get when the boss calls us into his/her office. It's that feeling most people get when they are asked to speak publicly. It's that feeling we get whenever we want to try something risky or new.
Here's 3 steps to becoming a wrecking ball on your personal Terror Barrier:
1. Do it afraid. Just keep moving forward no matter how badly your feet want to stay rooted to the ground. Refuse to let this limitation (that probably was your own creation) to control you or your future.
2. Expect the enemy. The Terror Barrier rears its ugly head every time we want to step into territory where we haven't previously traveled. It's natural and normal. Simply shrug and tell yourself, "Oh, there you are again. You're trying to keep me safe. This must mean something great for me if you are trying to stop me."
3. Keep your eyes on the prize. Mentally see yourself winning. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.'' Focus on how good it will feel to break through--victory tastes sooooo sweet.
I think we have no idea what we are truly capable of. Today, when you are faced with the Terror Barrier, take the above 3 steps. You can do it. Smashing through that barrier is possible and remember, once you stretch that comfort zone, it never goes back to the original smaller shape.
By the way, I scheduled that retreat and then figured it out. It's this Friday night, April 23rd and Saturday morning, April 24th. Click here if you want more info:
https://janmcdonald.
Focusing on how good it will feel to break through,
Jan
Jan McDonald
The John Maxwell Team
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