What is your DEEPEST fear?

jonesdav254

In the movie Coach Carter (2005), the lead character, a high school basketball coach named Ken Carter (played by Samuel L. Jackson), is surrounded by controversy when he benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him.
Carter, a successful sporting goods store owner, accepted the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a champion athlete. As much dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, Carter sets about to change both.

Coach Carter immediately imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that include stipulations for respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades as requisites to being allowed to participate. The initial resistance from the boys is soon dispelled as the team under Carter's tutelage becomes a undefeated competitor in the games. However, when the overconfident team's behavior begins to stray and Carter learns that too many players are doing poorly in class, he takes immediate action. To the outrage of the team, the school and the community, Carter cancels all team activities and locks the court until the team shows acceptable academic improvement...

In one of the more memorable exchanges in the movie, Carter challenges his team with the question; "What is your deepest fear?"
One of the star players on Carter's team responds with the quote below. This quote is a paraphrase from the Marianne Williams book "A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles".

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Hmmm? Think about what comes with power, like the ability to lose it or have it taken away from you.

If we are inadequate, we have something to strive for. If we are powerful, particularly over others, some might believe they have nothing left to strive for.

In our struggle for fitness and good nutrition (or more generically in our professional or personal lives), if we are powerful, we have responsibilities, like using our power in an ethical manner, over a self-serving manner. That can be challenging for some people.

Also, if you are really good at something a few times, it puts pressure on you to continue to be good. Think about losing some weight....or gaining some muscle. Will you always be able to achieve that success?

Think of the star quarterback. Everyone counts on him having a good game every time. What if he doesn't? A lot of people don't want that responsibility to others. If you are only average, no one expects you to be more than average. If you have one good day, then people are happy for you. But if you're always great and you have a bad day, people feel you've let them down.
Keep perspective on your goals and objectives but NEVER be intimidated by high goals. Through your achievements that you document here on MFP, you “let your light shine, and you unconsciously give other people permission to do the same”…by following your example.

What is your deepest fear? Face it....overcome it!