
Every year, my company hosts a sales kickoff offsite. This event serves as a valuable opportunity for sales reps and leaders across the organization to come together, celebrate our wins, gain insights into our trends, and regain our momentum for another year of success. This year, we hosted the kickoff in vibrant Vegas, where we exchanged laughs, strategies, and, unfortunately, germs. Coughing and sneezing echoed throughout every breakout session. While I diligently took my vitamins, I couldn’t shake the thought that catching a cold was more likely than not.
As I wrapped up my final day at the conference, I felt relief at not experiencing an itch in my throat or a sniffle in my nose. However, as I headed to the lobby to await my Uber ride, I caught something even worse than a cold—I caught a slight case of fear.
I packed my bags, cowboy hat on, boots tapping, and walked with confidence and excitement to get home. Upon reaching the lobby, I encountered a peer who was also waiting for a ride. We exchanged greetings and discovered we were on the same flight. However, she looked flustered and concerned. She asked me, "How could you be so calm? We could miss our flight!" I was puzzled; missing my flight hadn’t crossed my mind until that moment. She went on to explain that we only had a limited amount of time to reach the airport, plus who knows how long it would take to get through TSA.
Suddenly, my confidence and excitement began to dwindle as I considered her concerns. Anxiety surged through me, and I found myself constantly refreshing my Uber app, flustered by the thought that maybe he was taking too long. These feelings were completely new to me, sparked by our exchange.
Once I got in the car, the Uber driver assured me I had plenty of time and that the airport was only seven minutes away. That’s when I began to recall how often I’ve flown over the last several years and how long it typically takes to get through security. I reminded myself not to accept anyone else’s fears based on their perspectives or experiences. Before I knew it, I breezed through TSA with enough time to spare for a coffee.
Once settled on the plane, I laughed at how easily fear can be transmitted. There’s not a mask, a vitamin, or Emergen-C that can protect you from catching it. The only way to stop fear from spreading is by leaning back into what you know to be true and surrounding yourself with people who share your confidence and courage.
So, when fear starts to creep into your mind or heart, counter that germ with faith and trust. Honestly, if we were going to miss the flight, there was nothing either of us could do to change it.
Now, I can’t leave you without tying it back to scripture. The Bible says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV). Reflecting on this scripture, I realize that God did not give me a cold; rather, my exposure to certain elements and other sick individuals put me at risk. Similarly, God did not give me fear, but certain elements, people, and perspectives can cultivate that spirit. If I expose myself to it enough, I’ll surely catch fear too.
So the next time you feel intense fear or anxiety, trace it back to the source and counter it with truth. Here’s to safe travels on your journey this year—may you navigate it with little to no fear!
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