Fear Not

Posted on May 22, 2009 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

In my work with various leaders, I have found FEAR is one of the most powerful prohibitors of a person reaching their full potential as a leader and person.

During World War II (1944), thousands of American paratroopers jumped into Normandy to stop the advance of Hitler’s army. Military records show there were four soldiers who refused to jump that day. As I ponder those four men, I can not help but image the rest of their lives. I can only imagine what kind of excuses, rationales, or repressions they must have had to employ during the rest of their lives to explain why they refused to jump with their comrades that day. I believe (in some ways) the lives of those four men ended that night over Normandy when they gave into their fear.

We all die in the end, but there is no reason to die in the middle of our lives. When a leader refuses the opportunity to grow, or to take a courageous risk, they are forced to perform ever greater acts of repression to explain to themselves, and others, why they have chosen not to embrace all the mysteries and adventures our calling as a leader has presented us.

** As the Lord commanded the leader Joshua in the Old Testament - as leaders, we are to be "strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the Lord your God will be with you…" (Joshua 1:9)