When I think of the word "Overcoming fear", the first thing that comes to my mind is the poetry of Dr. Rabindranath Tagore, "WHERE THE MIND IS WITHOUT FEAR" This poem, was written when the British ruled our country. He wanted India to awaken to a bright dawn of freedom - freedom from slavery and our own mental chains.
We first need to understand what exactly fear is. It is nothing but an obstacle that obstructs our progress. We are anxious of the end-result, which might end in failure. This failure, further leading to humiliation in front of our family members, friends and peers thus destroying our self-image.
If we do not overcome this fear, it becomes our limits thus hampering our growth & development both personally & professionally. You must remember that being scared is part of being alive, Accept it and walk through it. Only you have the power to overcome this, as the contributor to inflict it, has been none other than you yourself.
Fear does not stop death but stops life. It does not exist anywhere except in the mind. Irrespective of the situation, circumstances or people, nothing is to be feared, but to be understood, faced with absolute assertiveness and confidence from the power that lies within you. Never trust your fears; they don't know your strength. It's just a matter of crossing that bridge, everything you want is on the other side of fear.
I would like to share my own experience of life. After having worked as a very satisfied teacher for 24 years, the opportunity of applying for the post of an Administrator looked very challenging and productive, though I did experience the same even as a teacher. Nonetheless, despite the fears and the deep feeling of anxiety, which is but obvious in any new role, there is pressure to perform right from start, whether that means finding the best solutions, providing the right answers, or impressing the right people. Despite all the challenges that came my way, I trusted my inner abilities to use everything I had gained from my past experiences to navigate through, one step at a time thus completing 5 years in this leadership post which has been extremely satisfying and accomplishing.
To overcome this emotional reaction of fear, it is important for you to acknowledge it, rather than pretending it doesn't exist, and believe that the key to success is to focus your conscious mind on the things we desire not on things we fear. Take complete charge of your life as it shrinks or expands which is directly proportional to your courage, as thinking will not overcome fear but action would.
I wish all my students the very best for the New Year 2022. May God give you the strength and courage to overcome all your inhibitions and fears to excel in all your future endeavours.
I would like to end by stating the quote given by Nelson Mandela
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
Mr. Naresh Chopra
(Senior School Administrator)
St. Columba's School
New Delhi
