Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

"Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" by Susan Jeffers contains lots of good practical advice, such as the power of eliminating negativity and pessimism from your vocabulary, taking responsibility for your reactions, how to have a balanced life, and many other great pearls of wisdom.

Here are some of my key take aways:

1. All you have to do to diminish your fear is to develop more trust in your ability to handle whatever comes your way
2. The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and do it
3. Not only am I going to experience fear whenever I'm on unfamiliar territory, but so is everyone else
4. Pushing through fear is less frightening than living with the underlying fear that comes with a feeling of helplessness. 
5. Before you take any action in life, ask yourself: "Is this action moving me to a more powerful place?" If it isn't you will think twice about doing it.
6. Begin eliminating the terribles, can'ts, problems, struggles and so on from your vocabulary. Certain words are destructive; others are empowering. e.g. "I can't" --> "I won't", "I hope" --> "I know", "What will I do?" --> "I know I can handle it"
7. The more you expand your comfort zone, the more powerful you become. Each day stretch yourself and do something that intimidates you
8. You are the cause of the feelings that take away the joy in your life. Are you a 'victim' or are you taking responsibility for your life? Whenever you are not taking responsibility you put yourself in a position of pain, and hence decrease your ability to handle the fear in your life
9. Taking responsibility means never blaming anyone else for anything you are being, doing, having or feeling
10. Taking responsibility means not blaming yourself
11. Taking responsibility means being aware of where and when you are not taking responsibility so that you can eventually change
12. Outtalk your negativity
13. It is empowering to have the support of a strong, motivated and inspirational group of people. You have to go out and create the type of support system you want.
14. The knowledge that you can handle anything that comes your way is the key to allowing yourself to take risks
15. You're not a failure if you don't make it; you're a success because you try. The trick in life is not to worry about making a wrong decision.
16. If I am not making mistakes, I can be sure I am not learning and growing
17. Act as if you really count
18. Create a whole of life grid of what is important to you for a balanced life and allocate 100% commitment of time to each; Contribution, Hobby, Leisure, Family, Alone Time, Personal Growth, Work, Relationship, Friends. Each day, create daily goals that reflect all the boxes in your grid.
19. With a positive attitude, value can be created from anything that happens in your life
20. Genuine giving is not only altruistic; it also makes us feel better.
21. You must become what you want to attract. Be the kind of person you would want to surround yourself with.

I thoroughly recommended this book.