take a cold shower.

“Have you taken a cold shower yet?” That was the message I awoke to from my mentor and friend, Kendra.

It seems that as I was saying good-bye to fear on Friday, my friend was posting I’ve Been Living Scared. She mentions incredible resources in her post and I began digging in because I realized, I had been living scared too! (Hop over and check her out. She’s really stepping out to conquer fear by paying accountability partners if she doesn’t meet her goal. Now that is bold!)

I downloaded a book she mentions called Flinch. I recommend you download it now! It’s FREE and it will change the way you look at your fears. Stop now – really – and download it!

The book spoke to me about all my misplaced fears, from the moment I began to read. Fears are flinches, because our thinking has been skewed. By the end of the first chapter he challenges you to take a cold shower and if you don’t the point is — you are flinching! And why?

I read the chapter and pondered the question. I didn’t need to go take a cold shower. I could feel myself tensing up as he wrote about it. For years I was a swim teacher and I remember all too well those early mornings at the pool. The water was ice-cold and I had to get it. I couldn’t very well coach a team or teach 2-3 year olds how to swim by standing on the sideline. I read on but continued to think about that cold shower. As I began to understand what he meant by a flinch and a fear, I decided I didn’t need to follow through with the homework. I had spent time processing the assignment and I got it. Yes, I’d quit flinching at things in life, but not this cold shower thing! I knew what cold water felt like.

I awake the next morning with this message from Kendra“Have you taken a cold shower yet?”

Seriously, she is going to hold me accountable to completing the assignments in this book — to not flinching. Shoot – why did I ever tell her I was reading this book?

I head to the shower thinking THIS IS STUPID I KNOW WHAT THIS FEELS LIKE!  Yes, I get it there is nothing to fear, because there is nothing about this that is going to hurt me in any way. I just don’t like cold water!

Turning on the COLD shower, I dilly-dally thinking this is crazy, I don’t want to do this, this will be painful!

Hopping in I’m screaming THIS IS CRAZY, is this necessary to conquer my fears?

While the freezing cold water caused my body to shiver and goosebumps to rise, I found myself thinking THIS IS ALL IN MY HEAD! Yes, I don’t like cold water but what’s the big deal.

As I completed my homework assignment and dried off with my nice warm cozy towel, I realized that is my life. I avoid things because I perceive they are bigger deals than what they are. I step out of situations because maybe something in the past has swayed my mind or the fear of the future has warped my thoughts.

What are you flinching from today?

sending that manuscript off to an editor

asking for a meeting with that business partner

sharing your ministry vision

writing that post that scares you to death

forgiving a family member

hugging your children

stepping up to lead

It’s time you and I quit flinching and realize the reality of our fears are false!

Here’s your homework: Download Flinch, read the first chapter and go take a cold shower. I want to hear about it!