Rhonda Cagle: Fear can drive people to change

• I confront issues that make me fearful, angry, or a combination of both. And I'm remembering that when change occurs, it brings with it new insights. New opportunities. New joys
• Complacency and comfort have a way of helping me avoid hard questions and decisions. It's often easier to avoid change if life is simply going along

A few days ago, I heard someone utter the phrase, "What would you do if you weren't afraid?"

I sighed from the weariness of hearing this oft-repeated question.

For many of us, myself included, I believe the better question is: What would you do if you were afraid?

Complacency and comfort have a way of helping me avoid hard questions and decisions. It's often easier to avoid change if life is simply going along.

For me, fear — or at least discomfort — is a powerful motivator for change.

Several years ago, after then-Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham caused a national uproar by canceling the Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Arizona and referring to African-American children as "pickaninnies," I was mortified. And angry. And afraid of the economic impact of his actions and words.

My fear and anger instilled in me what civic duty alone could not: I showed up at the polls the next time there was an opportunity to vote.

I took the time to research candidates and not base my vote upon party affiliation or which candidate had the most signs displayed. These were the days before a Google search made it easy to learn more about individual candidates, but I was determined to ensure my vote was informed to the best of my ability. I did not want to ever pass up an opportunity to make my voice heard and vote for leadership that would embody reason and respect.

I wish I could say that one lesson was enough to drive me to sustained action. It wasn't. And it took other moments of fear to drive me to make difficult choices.

My decision to seek professional counseling and ultimately leave a bad marriage was driven by the fear of my daughter growing up believing that what she was seeing and observing in that marriage was somehow OK. It wasn't. I was afraid she would never know the difference if I didn't give her a new example to follow.

Change is hard. Sometimes, however, the fear of things remaining the same is even harder. That's when change becomes the only real choice left to make.

I'm reminding myself of this a lot these days as I confront issues that make me fearful, angry or a combination of both. And I'm remembering that when change occurs, it brings with it new insights. New opportunities. New joys.

So. What about you? What would you do if you were afraid?

Rhonda Cagle is a marketing and communications professional. Join the conversation at RhondaCagle.Wordpress.com, or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhondaCagleWriter or Twitter @RhondaCagle1.