We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Maybe
some of our fears are brought on by your own experiences, by what someone
has told you, by what you've read in the papers. Some fears are valid
, like walking alone in a bad part of town at two o'clock in the morning
. But once you learn to avoid that situation, you won't need to live in
fear of it. Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally destroy our ambitions
. Fear can destroy fortunes. Fear can destroy relationships. Fear, if left
unchecked, can destroy our lives. Fear is one of the many enemies lurking
inside us. Let me tell you about five of the other enemies we face from
within. The first enemy that you've got to destroy before it destroys
you is indifference. What a tragic disease this is! "Ho-hum, let it slide
. I'll just drift along." Here's one problem with drifting: you can't drift
your way to the to of the mountain. The second enemy we face is indecision
. Indecision is the thief of opportunity and enterprise. It will steal
your chances for a better future. Take a sword to this enemy. The third
enemy inside is doubt. Sure, there's room for healthy skepticism. You
can't believe everything. But you also can't let doubt take over. Many
people doubt the past, doubt the future, doubt each other, doubt the government
, doubt the possibilities nad doubt the opportunities. Worse of all, they
doubt themselves. I'm telling you, doubt will destroy your life and your
chances of success. It will empty both your bank account and your heart
. Doubt is an enemy. Go after it. Get rid of it. The fourth enemy within
is worry. We've all got to worry some. Just don't let conquer you. Instead
, let it alarm you. Worry can be useful. If you step off the curb in New
York City and a taxi is coming, you've got to worry. But you can't let
worry loose like a mad dog that drives you into a small corner. Here's
what you've got to do with your worries: drive them into a small corner
. Whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it. Whatever is pushing
on you, you've got to push back. The fifth interior enemy is overcaution
. It is the timid approach to life. Timidity is not a virtue; it's an illness
. If you let it go, it'll conquer you. Timid people don't get promoted
. They don't advance and grow and become powerful in the marketplace. You
've got to avoid overcaution. Do battle with the enemy. Do battle with
your fears. Build your courage to fight what's holding ou back, what's
keeping you from your goals and dreams. Be courageous in your life and
in your pursuit of the things you want and the person you want to become.