🐸👑 "Face to Face with Fear" – Do What You Fear, and Fear Will Disappear
The Dream – Facing the Lion
One night, I had a remarkable dream. A lion appeared before me—majestic, powerful, and intimidating. Its presence filled me with awe, but also fear. In the dream, which felt more real than imagined, I heard a voice in my mind saying: “Do what you fear.”
At that moment, I did something unexpected—I approached the lion. With each step I took, my fear slowly faded. To my surprise, the lion’s fierce demeanor softened. It became calm and kind, no longer a source of danger but of reassurance.
A Memory of Narnia
The dream brought back cherished memories from my childhood. I have always loved reading (and I still do!), and one of my favorite book series was “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis. In this magical world, a young girl named Łucja (Lucy in English) befriends a mighty lion named Aslan.
To others, Aslan appeared terrifying and powerful, but Łucja, with her pure heart and bravery, saw his true nature—wise, kind, and protective.
Years later, I learned that in Turkish, the word “Aslan” simply means “lion.” This realization added an even deeper meaning to both my dream and the story. The lion in my dream mirrored Aslan, and the girl represented a part of myself—the childlike courage to see beyond fear.
The Painting – Turning Fear into Art
The next morning, still inspired by the dream, I knew I had to capture it through my art. Painting is not only my passion but also my way of processing emotions and visions. I picked up my oil paints and began to create.
The result was a painting of a young girl standing face to face with a lion, who no longer appeared threatening but calm and majestic. In the background, instead of the moon, I painted Mars.
Mars serves as a symbol of courage, determination, and strength—a planet that drives action and growth. To give the painting a unique, magical dimension, I used luminescent paints that glow under UV light, creating a vibrant contrast between darkness and light.
The Symbolism of Mars in My Painting
Mars on my painting serves as a symbolic backdrop, strengthening the message of bravery, motivation, and inner power.
For centuries, Mars has represented strength, action, and courage. In Roman mythology, Mars was the god of war, embodying the will to face challenges and confront struggles. Its presence in the painting highlights the idea that courage is the key to overcoming fear.
Just as the girl bravely approaches the lion, Mars symbolizes the inner strength and energy needed to face our fears and take action, even when we are uncertain.
Mars is also a planet of exploration and discovery. It encourages us to step outside our comfort zones, push past limitations, and reach for growth. On my painting, Mars represents personal development and the journey toward success, despite fear.
Mars serves as a reminder that every step taken toward our fears is also a step toward transformation and growth. Just like the girl standing face to face with the lion, we can uncover hidden strength within ourselves.
Do What You Fear – The Key to Success
Fear is a natural emotion. Its role is to protect us from harm, but too often, fear holds us back. Whether it’s the fear of failure, rejection, or uncertainty, it paralyzes us and prevents growth.
However, as I emphasize in my book, “Successful Mindset – Your Key to Achieving Your Goals: 23 Principles Followed by Successful People”, which I co-authored with Brian Tracy, fear loses its power the moment we take action.
Practical Steps to Overcome Fear
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Identify Your Fear
Recognize what you are afraid of and name it. Awareness is the first step to overcoming fear. -
Visualize the Worst-Case Scenario
Ask yourself: What’s the worst that could happen? Most of the time, reality is far less scary than our imagination. -
Take Small, Consistent Steps
Courage is built through action. Start with small steps and build momentum. -
Take Action Despite Fear
Courage is not the absence of fear but acting despite it. -
Learn from Mistakes
Treat failures as lessons. Every mistake brings you closer to success and personal growth.
“Where Fear Lies, Growth Awaits”
The psychologist Carl Jung once said: “Where your fear is, there your task lies.” Fear often points us toward areas where we need to grow. It is not our enemy—it is a signpost.
In my dream, the lion symbolized a challenge that initially felt overwhelming, but when I chose to face it, I found peace. In life, it is the same: the things we fear most often lead to our greatest breakthroughs.
The Key is Taking Action and Finding Solutions
Does this mean we should simply stop being afraid and wait for things to sort themselves out? Of course not! The key is to act despite fear. Seek solutions, keep trying, accept failures, and try again. The best athletes are proof of this – despite numerous failures, they never gave up and kept taking on challenges anew.
Many years ago, I removed the word "problem" from my vocabulary and replaced it with "challenge" or "situation." A challenge feels more manageable, while the word "problem" often induces fear. It’s easier to deal with challenges. The key is to focus on finding solutions, not on dwelling on problems. Taking action is essential – standing still and crying over spilled milk won’t get you anywhere.
Final Thoughts
The painting, with its glowing Mars, fearless girl, and once-intimidating lion, is a visual reminder that facing our fears is the gateway to growth and success. Fear only has the power we give it.
Every step we take toward the unknown reveals hidden strength within us. Do what you fear, and fear will disappear.
If you want to learn more about overcoming challenges, achieving success, and building the mindset for personal growth, I invite you to read my book:
👉 See the book: "Successful Mindset – The Key to Achieving Your Goals"