What Are You Missing?

Jaycee Dugard is a young woman who, as an 11 year old, was kidnapped and held by her capturers for 18 years. What happened to her during that time is truly atrocious, and her ability to emerge from those years of captivity and abuse, and seemingly adapt, is nothing short of miraculous. Her fortitude and determination to make it through her personal Hell amazes me.One of the many things that really struck me, as I read about this story, is the reason why Jaycee never tried to escape. She said, “All I can tell you is that he (her captor) convinced me that the pain out there would be worse than the pain I knew, and I was terrified for my two children to endure that.” She was afraid of the unknown, and isn't that true of all of us?While Jaycee was manipulated and her fears stoked by a true psychopath, our natural human tendency is to fear what we don't know; to allow ourselves to be stuck – even in the worst of circumstances – because at least we "know." Whereas when we step into the unknown, we have no idea what is coming down the road.Jaycee Dugard's experience highlights, in a very powerful way for all of us, what our fears hold us back from. For Jaycee, fear kept her from freedom. What are your fears – and you being stopped by them – holding you back from? And what commitments and accountabilities are you willing to put in place to get past those fears?Remember: YOU are the only person who has a say in how your life turns out. Push past your fears and worries, get present to what you do want, and go for it! When you are committed to having the life you say you want to have, there is nothing that will ultimately stop you. Just ask Jaycee Dugard.Warm Regards,