Friday, March 29, 2024

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葡萄樹傳媒

無所畏懼

By Robert J. Tamasy

美國總統富蘭克林.羅斯福在1933年的第一次就職演說中說:「我們沒有什麼好擔心害怕的,除非你讓恐懼控制你。」如果我在現場的話,我可能會想要回答說:「哦,是嗎?說的容易,要做到很困難吧!」但是,羅斯福的看法是:恐懼是一種強大的,令人癱瘓的情緒,它會阻擋我們去嘗試任何有可能的機會。

我的一個朋友大衛.桑福德寫了一篇關於專業人士的五種恐懼。包括:

害怕沉默(從工作中抽出時間來反省,重新設定目標,有創造性地思考和計劃)。 害怕分享(提出初步想法或非常粗略的草稿供其他人考慮和批評)。 害怕銷售(推廣優質概念,產品,計劃,建議和建議)。 害怕拒絕和失敗(擔心其他人可能會對我們說些什麼)。 害怕成功(擔心如果我們成功,其他人可能會期待更多)。

事實上,我們所有人至少都有其中一種恐懼,或者全部。其中幾個對我來說很熟悉,例如:「如果我離開工作去思考,想像力和計劃有時就會違背我的要求。 」「我應該做點什麼,而不是思考!」但事實是,如果我們不停止瘋狂的工作,怎麼知道做的是不是正確的事, 或者方向是正確的呢?」

在大學時我很早就意識到了,銷售從來就不是我的長才之一。試圖說服人們從我這裡購買產品對我來說,就像是站在消費者背後扭他們的手臂一樣。而且我們都曾經有過這樣的經驗:我們猶豫不決,繼續前進,掙扎著想:「如果我盡力但還是失敗怎麼辦?」

即使我現在已經到達職業生涯的高階了,我還是會發現自己對這些恐懼感到掙扎。我會試著提醒自己一些真理,例如:「不去嘗試,才是保證失敗。」或者,重申黃金法則,「其他人能賣出去,你也可以。」

不過我後來發現,克服恐懼的真正解決辦法不是這些聰明的口號,而是信靠上帝、祂的智慧和指導。以下是我在這聖經中發現關於克服恐懼的一些經文:

信靠上帝的同在。當我們面對令人害怕的情況和恐懼時,要知道上帝與我們同在,祂帶給我們信心和希望。「你不要害怕,因為我與你同在;不要驚惶,因為我是你的 神。我必堅固你,我必幫助你;我必用我公義的右手扶持你。」(以賽亞書41章10節)。

相信上帝的愛。我們作為上帝的孩子可以相信祂是我們的王:祂知道我們的狀況,而且祂掌權。因此,我們可以相信祂使用現在的狀況,是為了我們的最終的益處。「你們所受的,不是奴僕的心,仍舊害怕;所受的,乃是兒子的心,因此我們呼叫:「阿爸!父!(羅馬書8章15節

相信上帝可以解決我們的困難。當問題大到我們沒有辦法解決的時候,我們心中仍有確據知道上帝比問題更大。「既是這樣,還有甚麼說的呢?神若幫助我們,誰能敵擋我們呢?(羅馬書8章31節)。

反省與問題討論

作者在文章中提到五種恐懼,哪一種最適用於你的職場?分享你的答案。 除了這五種恐懼之外,你是否經常和其他的恐懼搏鬥?如果是,是什麼?什麼時候你會有這種狀況? 你通常如何處理這些恐懼? 當恐懼出現時,對上帝有信心會有什麼不同?每一天,包括你的工作,你是否認為祂關心你的恐懼和焦慮?請分享你的答案。

備註: 如果你手上有聖經,希望閱讀更多相關的經文,請參考:

詩篇118篇6節

118:6 有耶和華幫助我,我必不懼怕,人能把我怎麼樣呢?

耶利米書 29章11、13節

29:11 耶和華說:我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念,不是降災禍的意念,要叫你們末後有指望。
29:12 你們要呼求我,禱告我,我就應允你們。
29:13 你們尋求我,若專心尋求我,就必尋見。

腓立比書 4章6-7節

4:6 應當一無掛慮,只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求,和感謝,將你們所要的告訴 神。
4:7  神所賜、出人意外的平安必在基督耶穌裏保守你們的心懷意念。

彼得前書5章7節

5:7 你們要將一切的憂慮卸給 神,因為他顧念你們。

約翰一書 4章4節

4:4 小子們哪,你們是屬 神的,並且勝了他們;因為那在你們裏面的,比那在世界上的更大。

NOTHING TO FEAR – BUT FEAR ITSELF?

By Robert J. Tamasy

It was U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt who said in his first inaugural address, in 1933, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” If I had been alive then, I might have been tempted to respond, “Oh, yeah? That”s easy for you to say!” Roosevelt had a point, however, because fear can be a powerful, paralyzing emotion, preventing us from doing – or even attempting – promising opportunities.

A friend, David Sanford, wrote about five fears he has observed that plague professionals. These include:

Fear of silence (taking time away from work to reflect, re-envision, think creatively and plan). Fear of sharing (presenting initial ideas or very rough drafts for others to consider and critique). Fear of selling (promoting polished concepts, products, plans, proposals and recommendations). Fear of rejection and failure (worrying about what others might say about us). Fear of success (worrying that others might expect more of us if we succeed).

Virtually all of us can identify with at least one of these fears, possibly all of them. Several seem familiar for me. Stepping away from work to think, imagine and plan sometimes goes against my grain. “I should be doing something, not thinking!” But if we do not take pauses from frenetic activity, how do we know we are doing the right things – or doing them the right way?

Selling has never been one of my strong points, as I learned early on when I was still in college. The prospect of trying to persuade people to buy a product from me often felt like trying to twist their arms behind their backs. And I think we all have had times when we hesitated from moving forward, struggling with the thought, “What if I try and do my best, and still fail?”

Even at this advanced stage of my career, I find myself wrestling with these fears at times. Then I try to remind myself of truths such as, “If I do not try, failure is guaranteed.” Or, to restate the Golden Rule, “Sell unto others as you would have them sell unto you.”

But I have found that the real solution for overcoming fear is not clever slogans, but trusting in God, His wisdom and guidance. Here are some passages I have found helpful in that regard:

Faith in God”s presence. When we confront daunting situations and fears, knowing God is with us in the midst of them can bring us confidence and hope. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand(Isaiah 41:10).

Belief in God”s love. We as God”s children believe He is sovereign – that He knows our circumstances and is in control. Therefore we can trust He will use them for our ultimate good. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love(1 John 4:18). “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”” (Romans 8:15).

Trust that God can deal with our obstacles. When problems appear too big for us to handle, we have the assurance God is bigger than our problems. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).

© 2018. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

Which of the five fears listed can you identify with the most? Explain your answer. o you regularly wrestle with other fears not included on this list? If so, what are they, and when do you typically encounter them? How do you usually attempt to deal with these fears? What difference does faith in God make for you when these fears arise, if any? Do you even think He is concerned about your fears and anxieties as you deal with them during the course of a normal day, including your work? Why or why not?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Psalm 118:6; Jeremiah 29:11,13; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 John 4:4

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