Exercise: Recognizing & Removing the Faces of Fear

As we saw in the article, there are several different “roles” that each of us may play when we’re scared. Here is a way for us to recognize some sources of stress and our reaction to them. In order to reduce these “Spirit Killers” we need to spot these in ourselves and take corrective action, doing so will increase the amount of positive energy in the workplace and begin the process of eliminating counterproductive behaviors.

Fear – The greatest demon lurking to steal and stifle our growth is fear. Fear abounds in degrees and levels that are unfathomable. The problem is that we give it free reign over our spirits and our hearts, allowing it the privilege to sap and suck our energy. We need to believe we can and do have control over it. If we don’t, we’ll never grow.

Celebrity Ego – Everyone knows someone whose “EGO” is too big. Egotism is a major spirit killer, and is often presented when a person is afraid to show us what they really know, or how they truly feel. It is also a mechanism used to resist change. This blocks us from listening to the truth—and the bigger the “EGO,” the larger the block. If we would just drop the celebrity status and work to be real, then we just might grow. Interestingly, leaders sometime adopt this celebrity status because they really don’t know any other way to be. They are playing the “role.”

Bullied into Submission by Someone – If we can’t generate enough fear on our own,  we can always count on an insensitive tyrant to help us through intimidation and bullying tactics. This spirit killer makes it very difficult to grow because we are robbed of the confidence that allows such growth.

Laziness – The lazy person seeks the easy way. Growth, change, and facing what frightens you is not easy. It requires introspection and reflection on some difficult subject matter. Then, it requires us to change. It is far easier not to change. If we let laziness win, perhaps our life will be easy, and perhaps it will be safe, but it will also be stagnant.

Inner Inertia – Sometimes people do all the right things to develop themselves. They reflect, seek truth, see the required change. Perhaps they even begin the difficult journey of change. Then, they get stuck and stay stuck. After that, they just hang in a state of limbo. They can’t pry themselves loose. They’re just like a cat stuck in a tree, only there’s no fire department to call.

Ignoring Truth – Facing fear always brings along with it the need to face the truth…about ourselves, our situations, and more. We have honed our ability to ignore truth. We hear it, but we readily reject it as untruth. We find reason to dismiss it quickly and painlessly, before it can enter and be considered in any depth.

These six spirit killers, however, can be overcome and as humans, and employees, we can constantly work to improve ourselves. The first step to overcoming these spirit killers, is to understand them and to recognize them in ourselves.

Self awareness is vital to continuing our development. Also, awareness is central to emotional intelligence. In this exercise, it is our intention to help you identify the spirit killers that may be at work to stunt your growth so that you can then develop strategies for dealing effectively with them.

Complete the worksheet by placing a check mark on the spirit killers that sometimes stunt your own growth. Think about how to prevent these spirit killers from derailing you from your desired path.

_______ Celebrity Ego

_______ Fear

_______ Bullied into Submission by Someone

_______ Laziness

_______ Inner Inertia

_______ Ignoring Truth

Once you have reflected & checked appropriate answers answer the following questions:

1) What can you do to prevent these spirit killers from robbing your development?

2) When you consider the spirit killers listed, is there a pattern of one or two that prove most destructive for you?

3) What do you think you could do to diminish the impact of the spirit killer?

4) Who could help you overcome the obstacles that can stunt your growth?

5) What would you gain if you could erase these spirit killers from your life?