Fear is knocking at the door of my heart. A pulse of insecurity shoots through my mind. The war is on. The battle is full tilt. I am fighting for my life, dreams, and ambitions. Will I put up a fight or go into the captivity of complacency, fear, and timidity? 

I have never felt so overwhelmed in my life as of recent. It is amazing to me how when I start making strategic moves towards what I feel is right the immediate backlash that occurs is almost comical. You would think I would start expecting it, but alas, here I am in yet another skirmish with the internal milieu I am continuously immersed in. Will I rise to the occasion or shrivel up and run away? 

I am here to encourage, uplift, and advocate for fighting the good fight against these annoyances not only for myself but, for you as well. I parallel these struggles to be similar to a poker tell. According to Wikipedia, a tell in poker is a change in a player's behavior or demeanor that is claimed by some to give clues to that player's assessment of their hand. You might be asking why I brought this up; it is because I am starting to believe that when fear and insecurity come waging war, it is as though life is giving you a "tell" that you are on the right path.  

What do you do with this unique information that this "tell" is giving? This is what I have been trying to figure out. Even though I feel overwhelmed, unequipped, and isolated, I know I am headed in the correct direction. How do I stay motivated to keep moving forward? How do I let this struggle fuel me rather than paralyze me? That seems to be the million dollar question at this moment. Does this "tell" of the opposition being present inform me that I can make it or I should turn around? 

What did the greats have to say about complacency or cowardice? 
- To see the right and not to do it is cowardice. Confucius
- Courage is often lack of insight, whereas cowardice in many cases is based on good information. Peter Ustinov
- The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity. Rollo May
- Change before you have to. Jack Welch
- Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King, Jr.

When sitting in the presence of those who support you to fight complacency and with the knowledge that fear and insecurity are active I can not think of anything in the world that should stop me from fighting for what I desire and believe to be true. Why do I feel crippled and incapable of pressing on? How do I find the inner strength I long for? 

If I have learned anything from life, it is this. Help, success, and fulfillment never come in the expected form or delivery. So it makes me wonder that the strength and motivation I desire to feel may not ever form or develop in the fashion I expect. I am starting to believe that fighting the good fight of day to day existence is merely this, showing up and putting one foot in front of the other. I am a man who desires to stay motived, are you? 

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.
Charles R. Swindoll

This is what I am committing to. I will not give up. When life gets hard, I will wake up and keep moving. I will embrace adversity and my failures. I will find strength in my friends and family. I will pursue that which I desire and dream of. I will be an authentic man. 

What are you willing to commit to? How are you going to stay motivated? Please share your thoughts so I may learn from them.

Cheers,

Timothy