Common Myths Can Distort The Truth

In my books I spend a lot of time exploring and (if I feel qualified to do so) correcting common myths. I believe it to be a worthwhile undertaking, and perhaps, one of the purposes for which I have been placed on this earth. So many people accept tradition and long-standing adages without doing the slightest bit of research. 

So the question might be. “What's the cheapest way to get to Los Angeles?” And the long-standing, accepted solution might be to catch the bus. And so they buy a bus ticket without doing the research, without discovering Southwest Airlines is running a $99 special all month. The old adage is wrong but because of fear or laziness or a reluctance to step outside their comfort zone, they accept tradition as fact.

So here's the common myth I want to explore. When contemplating a new venture, we often discuss the decision with friends or relatives. We say, “I want to attempt this new thing but something keeps telling me I won't be able to pull it off.”

Depending on the dynamics of your circle and relationships, some will tell you to pray on it. This is good advice “assuming”you have a relationship with God, you know how to get a pray up and you know how to recognize a spiritual response. In other words there is a common myth that advising people to pray is always the best solution, when in reality, it won't help an unbeliever at all.

Here is the second common myth and then I'm through. Some friends will tell you your reluctance is fear.  They say, “you've got to stop being afraid. You got to be willing to step out and try new things.”

To always equate reluctance with fear is a misnomer. In fact, fear may very well be the culprit ... or the voice you're hearing may be the accumulation of knowledge and experience that is speaking to your subconscious mind.

So you were engaged to John who had a long nose, and who broke off the engagement just before the wedding. You met a new guy named Felton who had a long nose and stole your checking information and emptied your account. Now, 10 years later, you have this guy named Victor with a long nose who has bought a big ring and is proposing marriage. And you're saying to your friend, “I don't know why, something is telling me this is not going to work out.”

It's that $#!*!*!#  nose! ... All those hurting experiences have coalesced and personified themselves in a symbolic visual that only your subconscious understands. Maybe this Victor guy is different.  Many Rottweilers turned on their masters, but not all. When I go to the pet store, do I want to take a chance? And can my reluctance (after doing the research on dogs) be automatically classified as fear?

Don't automatically dismiss reluctance as fear. Your experiences are just as important as your boldness in moving forward. Don't ignore that little voice. Try to understand where it's coming from