Being scared is nothing to be afraid of.
For many, fear runs their life. That 'what if' fear of how events could possibly go wrong has paralysed many an action and many a dream.
It's been said that anxiety manifests itself as an obsession with the future. As an extension of that you can see how fear preys on a manic focus on consequence, rather than events as they are happening.
I've had to face a fair amount of fear in recent weeks, making the decision to give up my full-time job, which filled me financially, but left me spiritually empty, and dedicate myself to my personal training business.
The unknown can be frightening, especially when you fill it with your own imagination. Dealing with the shock of no longer working in an industry I'd given 18 years of my life to, which at one point nearly had me calling up my former boss to beg for my job back - now that would have been humiliating - made me think of other times fear has consumed me.
As a kid and through my teens and early 20s I would consider myself pretty fearless. I'd try pretty much any stunt - off roofs, on bikes, skateboard - and regular trips to A&E and resultant plaster casts didn't seem to deter me. In fact, such was my season-ticket-like attendance at our local emergency ward, doctors once took my mum aside and asked her if she'd been beating me. 'Why, do you think it might stop him doing these stupid stunts?' she said.
Aged 17 I travelled around Europe on my own. When cash was tight I sold my watch and personal stereo in pre-Balkan War Yugoslavia to fund another week. I relished my independence and adventure.
However, after almost six years living abroad in the Czech Republic, I returned home complaining of 'not feeling right' to my parents.
Instead of regenerating me, home comforts seemed to make me worse and I started having panic attacks. People who have had them will know they're no joke. I thought I was going to die. My body seemed to be playing weird tricks on me, filled by coursing fear and adrenaline. My throat seemed to be closing, my neck so tight it felt like I was being choked all the time. I'd get rushes of pins and needles throughout my whole body.
Suddenly everywhere I went seemed to be fraught with danger. In crowds of people I was going to get crushed, in the Underground I was going to suffocate, in cars I was going to crash and swimming I was going to drown.
This last one was strange as I'd always been a strong swimmer. One of many memories shared with my wonderful mum - now sadly passed away - was swimming way out in the Gulf of Mexico in St Petersburg, Florida, alongside a wild dolphin who'd show off with jumps and spins. I don't recall feeling fearful at all.
But now, as soon as I got out of my depth, even in a pool, my throat tightened, my breathing grew shallow and my heart beat like it was going to burst through my chest. I'd flap desperately to get back to the shallows full of visions of my own death and wasted life.
It got so bad, I avoided swimming completely. If I went to a beach paddling was the most I'd do. This went on for many years.
Having children and seeing them struggle to learn to swim I knew I had to be a strong role model. I started visited the local municipal pool alone and tried to get over my fear. Still, as soon as I could no longer touch the bottom I felt that dizzying rush of fear and I'd forget everything I knew about swimming, taking huge gasps for air that never seemed to come into my lungs.
I started making progress only when I realised I had to take my mind off the future. I'd see the pool deep end wall and panic I'd never be able to get there. But if I focused on each stroke a time, keeping my eyeline on the rippling water around me I could regulate my breathing and swim naturally.
It took time, but I began to convince my own mind that I could swim well in the deep water. On really good days, the focus on stroke by stroke became quite meditative. It's a work in progress and there's no need to open that JustGiving page for my charity swim the Channel effort just yet, but confronting that fear was one of the best things I've done in recent times.
Some of you may have fear holding you back from starting an exercise regime or taking on a sporting event. Perhaps it's the scale of the perceived effort, how to fit it in around your work or family, which is intimidating you.
Here at Marks of Fitness we do something similar to my method for getting swimming in deep water again. We take it stroke by stroke, or rep by rep. Yes, I'll work with you to set goals, both long and short term, but once they're set they can be put to the side and the focus becomes the day-to-day-work.
A goal to be able to run non-stop for a mile may seem daunting to some, but I will break it down into step-by-step drills. The focus is then to perfect each drill.
And just as I, once I focused on each individual stroke, would get to end of the pool, almost without knowing it - soon you'll put your head up and realise just how far you've come by focusing on the work as you do it and not the future.
Down there in the focus on work, on the moment - fear can't get to you. This is how you beat it.
If you want to take on your fears and instil your life with a disciplined fitness plan that will get results. Get in touch at markoffitness.org where you can get two free gifts to start you on your fitness journey or at my Facebook site @mymarkoffitness