Fear is the Mind Killer

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Fear is the Mind Killer,

That statement is as relevant today as it was in 1965 when Frank Hubert published his novel Dune.

Paul Atraides, the main character in Dune, quotes from the Litany of Fear in the first chapter of the book. The entire quote is;

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

The quote is designed to help you focus through your fear. It recognizes that fear will happen, that you will be scared, but you must not let that fear define you, or rule you. You must concentrate through the fear and let your reason win. It also acknowledges that fear will pass and you will have to live with the actions and consequences of your decisions once it is gone.

The number one enemy to effective leadership is fear.

Fear is why we fail

Fear is why our people fail

Fear is why or organizations fails

We let fear guide our decisions, we let fear dictate our responses and we let fear paralyze us from taking action.