Yes Turtle but tell us how you really feel.
How do I really feel?
I feel there's nothing quite like the fear of change, and the fear of the unknown.
Fear of failure and fear of success are two common aspects of the fear of change, both reflecting similar negative beliefs of low self-worth and self-doubt. When strong self-worth is present, however, change can be welcomed as an opportunity for growth, forward movement, and personal fulfillment.
Almost synonymous with the fear of change is the fear of failure. Many people feel worried and anxious when they even think of undertaking new challenges because they doubt their abilities, their intelligence, their self-worth, or their capacity to overcome obstacles that may arise. They fear not measuring up, making a mistake, and being judged and humiliated. The possibility of failure threatens to dislodge their already low sense of worth and therefore does not merit the risk.
Conversely, when self-worth is strong, fear may still exist, but it no longer has the power to destabilize forward movement. "Failure" is perceived as a temporary setback or as a potential learning experience. Strong self-esteem enables individuals to focus on taking the steps necessary to ensure success, expressing itself in an unfolding of the self, the ability to strive, learn, and embrace new challenges and experiences.
Fear of success is the flip-side of fear of failure. Many people are ultimately afraid of unleashing their full potential, not because they fear they will fail, but because they fear their power and their ability to succeed. The idea of embracing happiness and truly succeeding may evoke many limiting beliefs stemming from low self-worth. For example, many people doubt whether they deserve happiness or whether sustained happiness is even possible. To that end, their fear of a non-sustainable success may cause them to choose to compromise themselves and their dreams. Such beliefs tap into deep-seated self-doubt, and often result in self-sabotage.
Those who fear the unknown of change and fail to meet head on the challenges of change and treat them as opportunities, often quickly retreat to being a victim of unfair change and will blame others for their failures. The fact is, we are the masters of our own destiny. The path we follow, while influenced by others, is nonetheless our own.
When I first read the Fleet Message announcing the change, my immediate thought was not that it was unfair, but rather, "How can I use this to my advantage, how can I make this
work for me?"
