The Mean Reds

I loved the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.  Even before I really understood the plot, theme or whatever they are called. LOL.  But there was just something about the sadness, happiness, quirkiness, boldness and vulnerability of Holly that appealed to me, even as a teenager when I first saw the movie.

There is one scene where Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) explains what having the "mean reds" actually means.  "The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of....Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!" You would have to watch the movie to understand that last part! 

So my question to myself this evening was, when I get the mean reds, what calms me down?  We all need a "resting place".  A place we can run and recoup, a sanctuary.  Instead of a man-cave, we need a diva dome! Because there is nothing appealing about a cave! And real diva's don't do anything small.  LOL. But seriously.  I'm not speaking only of a physical space.  The mean reds can be debilitating.  Fear can be all consuming and will hinder you from progression.  I know.  Because I have fears that I cannot even identify at times.  It just creeps in and sucks all sense of confidence, ability and awesomeness from me.  And don't even get me started on public speaking.  And what is so ironic, someone is always telling me how well I speak!  But it scares me to pieces! My hands shake, my knees knock, and I lose my breath because of my abnormal diaphragm so I can't say too many words without taking breaths...I see myself as a hot mess when I speak.

So what do you have to do to overcome those nasty mean reds? I found an excerpt from A Better You Blog, 5 Steps to Overcome Fear of Failure, and they actually make sense and can be easily applied.


~ Identify your fear - What is it you are most afraid of?
~ Understand your fear - Figure out the messages and warnings your fear sends you.
~ Re-Interpret it - Once you know the messages fear sends, create positive messages to replace them.
~ Disable it - Take the insecurity or hurt of your past and fight to remove its strength.
~ Use it - take that anger and frustration from having fear and let it motivate you to accomplish amazing things.

From this day forward, I vow that the mean reds have no power over me anymore.  On my list of things to do tomorrow, (well, later this morning) is to identify, understand, reinterpret, disable and use my fear.  I will write it down so I know for sure what it or they are.  Fear is not of God and I refuse to let it play leading role in my life any longer.  I know I am destined for greatness.  Whether anyone else believes it or not.

~GN, AJOY


Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27