It’s officially spooky season. Yards are filled with giant spiders, massive skeletons, and a plethora of styrofoam gravestones. Children swarm the streets donning costumes in varying degrees of gore and gruesomeness. From creative and crafty to spooky and scary, it is promised something will cause a fright. 

The neighbor kids came by for trick or treating this Saturday night. They are all toddler age or younger and have seen the yard decor from a distance. The zombie emerging from the grass, the motion activated screaming creatures hanging from my awning, and an eleven year old ghost face wielding a plastic hatchet and a bowl of candy brought them to a new level of fear. They were face to face with all that is Halloween, and they were loving it. The oldest was terrified, the bones on his skeleton costume were shaking and he was close to tears. 

But, that bucket of candy beckoned him.

No matter how many potential life threatening obstacles stood, or crawled, in his way he was destined to dig his tiny hands into the mound of treats. 

Wyatt was scared, and that’s ok. I’m scared sometimes, we all are, and that is ok too. 

Fear is a natural response to the unknown. Fear keeps us safe by demanding that potential disasters are taken into consideration. This emotional response is automatic, uncontrollable, and at times can stop you in your tracks. It pauses you, and makes you think, “Can this kill me?”, “What’s the worst possible outcome?”, “What do I have to do to conquer this fear?”. 

Once the trepidation releases its hold, you are free to move forward, take the job, make the call, get the candy. 

How can we use apprehension, anxiety, and fearfulness as fuel to advance rather than retreat? 

Harness the Power: When we are scared, we are cautious. Whether it be making that first call, building that first unit, or quoting that first job, you can be sure that you will be crossing your T’s and dotting your I’s. The power of accepting fear and using it to overcome the unknown is what allows for growth, development, and progress. The little tyke slowly and carefully approached the masked guardian of the sweet treasure. He succeeded in grabbing handfuls of candy, and likely was less scared as they circled the block. He learned to be less scared and to approach with caution. I suppose I need to level up my scary yard decor.

Don’t Fear the Fail: Failure is not measured by perfection, but rather by the absence of improvement. Success is taking the first step. It is learning as you go, and getting better every time. Fear of failure will destroy any chance of greatness and achievement. The first call may not lead to a big sale. The quoted job might never return. The vehicle may not pass the first road test. You call again, quote the next customer, go back through the wiring diagram until the warning lights are gone. You get better each time and hone in your skills, you are able to progress towards success because you took the first step and started. One can not win a game they don’t play. 

Defeat the Demon of Doubt: I think I can. I think I can. I didn’t see any “Little Engines That Could” trampling through the neighborhood lawns but watching the boy next door conquer his fear was more inspiring than seeing a train going up a hill. He was still scared, the fear remained. He wasn't able to completely banish the fear, yet he won. Not because he wasn't scared anymore, but because he did it anyway. Once you have been released from fears, you can now move forward. Hold a hand if you need to. Lean on your resources. Rely on your training and your past experiences to give you the courage and bravery needed. Remove your self doubt and replace it with confidence. Once you think you can, the fear is nothing more than the lingering feeling like an unpleasant itch caused by a cheap costume wig.

Fear is powerful. It is what keeps us safe while propelling us towards success. Acknowledge it, and use it to create change and inspire innovation in yourself and the world around you. 

With three days left till Halloween night, I am now inspired to increase my spooky level and scare the snot out of these kids.

Happy Haunting!