We've all had those moments - when you were almost, just about, getting ready to ...and then a horde of overwhelming thoughts and emotions stopped you dead in your tracks. So you didn't ...and later you were left running through countless "what ifs". "What if I had gone after that job?" "What if I had gone to the doctor sooner?" "What if I had taken that vacation?" "What if I had stepped out of my comfort zone and taken a chance?"

But at some point you justify your inaction by convincing yourself that it was better to have played it safe anyway. You deny the fact that your life is dictated by a fear of change -- because there's a lot of uncertainty that comes with change; there's lack of feeling in control.

Playing it safe can be an excuse for trying to exercise complete control over your life, but when fear keeps you from what you really want, you're not in control. Instead you're being controlled ...by fear. There's some good news, however; a true bounty of hope. Being afraid of change is normal, but despite fear, you have a choice. You can choose to step beyond fear into the unknown and to create the kind of life you truly desire to live. In fact, you can make this choice right now by deciding to let fear no longer dictate your life.While this is certainly much easier said than done, the fact is that the more you practice stepping out in fear, the closer you get to becoming a master of change and that is when you are able to live your life more fully. However, in order to do so, you must first figure out both what you really want and what is keeping you from getting it.If negative thoughts are the culprit, ask yourself whether these thoughts are realistic or not. Take a mindful approach by developing a non-judgmental awareness of all of your thoughts and emotions. Accept what is there, and give yourself the permission and authority to overcome any thoughts that get in the way of you living joyfully. Recognize that those thoughts are not you; they're merely activity of the mind.

Speaking of ...how many times have you completely made up your mind about something after mulling over it for hours and hours only to change your mind at the last second because of one recurring negative thought? How many times has someone else dictated your choices and held you back from going after what you truly want and deserve?

Sometimes it's not only the chatter of our own thoughts that we have to quiet but also the chatter of other's. While living a life of practicality is admirable and largely beneficial, one thing is certain: facing fears is not always synonymous with practicality. While there are moments that require one to be practical, there are many moments that require courageousness over sensibility. Facing fears is about living in line with what matters most to you and about giving yourself permission to thrive in life by stepping out of your comfort zone. Sometimes that requires us to take huge leaps of faith; leaps that make sense to no one but ourselves.

While deciding what you desire most for your life can be a difficult pursuit, I like to apply this rule to help guide the process: whatever both excites and scares you is exactly what you should do. articlezap