Snake Charmer: Is fear holding you back?

Life Coaching Tip: Most fear originates from the stories we have crafted in our minds.  The thoughts feel very scary and real, and then we naturally react to them. Is fear holding you back from what you really want for your life? If so, I encourage you to take a second look at it. Are you focused on true facts or the stories you’ve invented with your very creative brain?

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A situation once occurred while on my morning walk that still cracks me up today.

I want to share it with you, not because it makes me look like a stable, competent adult—because that it certainly does not—but because there is a life coaching lesson tucked inside this not-so-harrowing adventure.

Here it goes . . . .

As I started down a path near the lake one morning, I came across the most enormous snake I had ever seen slithering fully across the muddy path and into the grass.  It would be an understatement to say that it took me by surprise!

The moment I saw it, I stopped dead in my tracks and stared.  I was still relatively far away, so I squinted my eyes to try to focus in on what I was seeing.

I didn’t think there were snakes like this in the area. This doesn’t make sense, I thought. I wonder if the snake was someone’s pet and they let it loose.

Yep, that sure seemed like a possibility.

That’s when I heard a rattling noise, and I freaked out!

I remembered all the stories my mom had shared with me growing up about my grandfather’s adventures with rattlesnakes when he worked for the railroad in West Virginia.

Could it be a rattlesnake?

No, that can’t be right, I thought again.  There are no rattlesnakes in Northeast Ohio.

But then I remembered the scenario I had just concocted a few moments prior.

Oh, man, maybe someone let a pet rattlesnake loose in the park.  That’s so irresponsible!  Some unsuspecting person could really get hurt!

That was the thought that did it.  You didn’t have to warn me twice!

I turned around and headed the other way, lickety-split!

There are several trails that loop off the one I was on, and so I was glad to be able to avoid a close-up snake encounter and continue with my walk.

As I walked, I kept thinking about the heartless person who would let a pet loose in the wintertime.  It made me sad to think this poor snake might not be able to survive due to someone’s foolish act.

I also thought about what might happen if it did survive—like it could bite someone in the springtime when the park was busier.

I was feeling troubled as these thoughts filled my mind, and I contemplated calling the park system and notifying a ranger. But then I worried about what to say. I might sound a little crazy, right?

The path I was walking on looped around, so eventually I was on the other side of the path where I originally saw the rattlesnake.

When I peered down the path to make sure it was gone, I was surprised to find it was still there.

Okay, that was weird.

I had been walking for about thirty minutes by then, and so it was odd that the rattlesnake would still be crossing the path.

I squinted again, and I really looked.

Well, here’s where I must admit how ridiculous I was!

As I focused my eyes on the snake, I realized it wasn’t a snake at all!

Nope.

It was a long, thick vine that had fallen across the path.  And, although it was moving slightly with the wind, it was not slithering—that’s why it was still in the path!

Apparently, vines don’t slither.

While most people might have wisely kept this story to themselves, I felt compelled to share it with you because it’s such a fitting example of how fear works. Fear is sparked from the thoughts and stories we create in our own minds or those that have been passed down through the generations.

Did you see how I did this with my snake story?

Not only was I certain I saw a snake, but I even identified it as a “rattlesnake” and created a story about how it arrived in my neck of the woods.

I even heard it rattle!

Impressive imagination I have—I know.

And beginning with that story, I crafted another story about the terrible villain who abandoned this innocent, but dangerous creature.

I also invented a problem for myself, questioning if I should report this snake sighting, and if so, to whom?

I felt scared, worried, angry, disgusted, and sad—all because a vine was lying across a path in the woods.

And I even changed my course.  I walked in a completely new direction to avoid a danger that I made up in my head!

Now don’t judge me here—or at least not too harshly, because we humans do this all the time.

How many times have you been afraid of something and then worried about it so much that your fear grew bigger and bigger in your mind?

Did you ever change your course as a result?

Have you ever backed away from something or not done it altogether because of what you imagined could possibly happen?

And have you ever felt scared, worried, angry, or sad about the stories you’ve created, but without ever really checking out the facts?

I’m guessing I’m not the only one here. Am I right?

Most of our fears originate from the stories we have crafted in our minds.  The thoughts feel very scary and real and we react to them.

Reacting to these made-up stories is what holds people back the most.

So, if fear is holding you back from what you really want for your life, I encourage you to take a second look at it—like I did from the other end of the trail.

Are you being honest with yourself about what you are fearing?

Are you focused on the facts? Or are you focused on the stories and beliefs passed down in your family or the ones you invented with your highly creative brain?

I get it. Distinguishing between fact and fiction can be difficult at first glance.

And fear comes up naturally at the first thought of change.

But your fear is rarely rational, and it should never be allowed to be the boss of your one and only life!

Be bold!

Be brave!

Don’t let those snakes rattle you.

Just leap right over them, my friend!