The Lean Body Promise Part 2

So what's holding you back?
Typically, there are three things tying us back to our old habits: fear, excuses, and negative self-talk.

#1. Fear Itself
A certain amount of fear is good. Are you afraid of running across a busy interstate at rush hour? That's a healthy fear. Afraid of stepping too close to the edge of a tall building while blindfolded? Another healthy fear. If human beings weren't hardwired with a certain amount of fear, we wouldn't have made it out of prehistoric times alive.
Many fears, however, are unfounded in reality. And these fears are the ones that stop you from trying. "I failed before," you might say. "Why should i do this to myself again?" Once your fears are reinforced, you might ask, "Why should I bother in the first place?"
Thins is, you do have a chance. You need to think about what's holding you back instead of being dominated by fear. Here's an acronym I call to mind when I start seeing shadows on the wall:
FEAR = False Expectations Appearing Real
And most times, that's all that you're afraid of: false expectations. I'll never finish it. It won't work on me. I'll screw it up. They're phantoms, easily dispelled with a little positive thinking. But getting trapped in a perpetual downward spirals of negative thinking will lock your ability to think through a problem and come up with a breakthrough solution. Fear will hold you back the very thing that can help.
Your desire to reach the outcome - a leaner, healthier body - must be stronger than the fear that kepps you back. There's going to be a certain amount of discomfort in approaching any goal. Your desire has to be stronger. If you can make that desire real enough - cyrystalise it in your mind - you'll be able to outpace your fear.

Soureced from The Lean Body Promise book.