Escaping the Prison of Fear: A Blueprint for Emotional Freedom

Wealth Matters Weekend Mental Health Primer

Fear is one of the most powerful drivers of human behavior, shaping decisions and actions more than most realize. In fact, as of 2023, the Chapman University Survey of American Fears revealed that the top fears among Americans include corrupt government officials (60.1%), economic collapse (54.7%), and nuclear threats from Russia (52.5%).

The current inundation of cognitive dissonance from this upcoming election is only compounding these in the minds of everyone around you as these fears are deeply rooted in concerns over personal safety, financial stability, and geopolitical tensions, and they reflect the reality that many people make decisions based on fear rather than faith, understanding, or possibility.

In line with these findings, it’s been estimated that around 70% of people make decisions primarily rooted in fear—whether it’s fear of financial ruin, fear of societal collapse, or fear for the safety of loved ones. This is why campaigns and marketing efforts ALWAYS trigger the fear button to get you to move in their desired direction

When so much of society operates from a fear-based mindset, it becomes clear why many feel trapped, unable to break free from the mental and emotional prisons they’ve built. However, there is a way to escape this fear-driven existence.

Today’s post will help you rediscover your universal power to use fear as a reminder of your internal power to direct thought energy to a higher purpose and to find the emotional freedom on the other side of it.

The Subtle Growth of Fear: From Worry to Anxiety

Fear doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It begins as a small, often unconscious, worry. Whether it’s the fear of not having enough money for the future (48% of Americans share this concern), or the fear of biological warfare (49.5%), fear tends to manifest slowly and subtly. What starts as worry evolves into doubt, undermining self-confidence and increasing hesitancy. Over time, these doubts transform into full-blown anxiety, manifesting in ways like avoidance, procrastination, and self-sabotage.

Interestingly, research shows that 91% of the things we worry about never happen, yet these worries still dominate our thoughts and actions. We fear financial collapse, illness, or personal failure, but rarely stop to realize how much of that fear is exaggerated by our minds.

Fear Grows From Uncommunicated Expectations

One of the most overlooked aspects of fear is how it’s tied to uncommunicated expectations. When we hold expectations—of ourselves, others, or circumstances—that we don’t openly express, fear creeps in. We expect things to go a certain way, but because we haven’t voiced these expectations, uncertainty fills the gap, leading to anxiety and doubt. This lack of communication fosters fear as we start imagining the worst-case scenarios, assuming others won’t meet our needs, or that situations will fall apart due to misunderstandings.

Unspoken expectations create a feedback loop with fear. The more we expect without communicating, the greater our fear of failure, disappointment, or rejection becomes. For example, in relationships, failing to communicate what you need from a partner can lead to resentment and insecurity, as you fear they will never meet those needs—yet, you never gave them the chance to do so. Similarly, in business, unvoiced expectations can breed distrust and a fear of failure, making leaders more reactive and less likely to take calculated risks.

By openly communicating expectations—whether in personal or professional settings—you take a vital step toward breaking the cycle of fear. Clear communication brings clarity, reducing the unknowns that fuel anxiety. When expectations are known, you eliminate ambiguity, reducing the room for fear to fester and allowing for more collaborative, trust-based environments.

The Terror Barrier and Finding Emotional Freedom

Fear, when allowed to fester, creates a mental “Terror Barrier.” This barrier represents the point at which fear becomes so intense that it feels impossible to move forward. Whether you’re afraid of failure, rejection, or public speaking (a fear shared by 73% of Americans), this Terror Barrier stands between you and the emotional freedom you desire.

However, it is precisely at this point—when fear is at its peak—that you must push through. Crossing the Terror Barrier leads to a sense of emotional liberation and a newfound belief in your ability to face life’s challenges. As personal growth experts like my old friend Bob Proctor have emphasized, the key to breaking through this barrier is to confront fear head-on rather than letting it dictate your decisions.

Reframing Fear: From Obstacle to Opportunity

Fear is not inherently bad. when properly reframed, it can serve as a guide toward growth and transformation. The problem arises when we allow fear to control our actions.

There is a sneaky, conniving, and fraudulent foe to the very spirit that each of us “is.” That foe is the COMFORT ZONE.

The laws of the universe work cohesively and in accordance with one another to create an orderly universe by which effects may be repeatable. One of the outcomes of thisbody of laws governing all things in the physical plane is that of “create or disintegrate.” T

This could also be explained by saying that which is not growing is dying. The fraud of the comfort zone is that it hides behind the Universal Law of Gender and fools us to believing that things stay the same, because we do not see an immediate “death” in the physical plane when we stop our spirit from driving forward or growing in a certain direction. The Law of Gender dictates that our stagnant acceptance of the comfort zone leads to the death of all dreams, aspirations, and things in our life slowly over time and could be likened to you or me running through a field of thorny rose bushes and then taking a few years to bleed to death.

The worst thing about comfort zones is that they don’t hurt. They feel comfortable, and in the worst and most paralyzing state they may even feel good and are supported not just by our social circles but also by the invisible alogorithmic manipulation in our social media feeds!

Charles Haanel wrote in The Master Key System about “Life as an enfoldment.” The infinite power of energy is always moving into form, through form, and out of form. It is never stagnant! It is equally present in all places at all times. It is just as much in front of you as it is behind you. Just as much to yourleft as it is to your right. It is just as much in me as it is present in you, BUT IT IS NEVER STAGNANT AND NEVER STILL.

Therefore, if you are staying locked into a comfort zone then you are actually moving out of form through the path of least resistance from a higher potential to a lower one.

In other words, that business... that relationship... that passion...that dream... that is comfortable where it is, is in effect by the laws of this universe, DYING!

Fear is what is holding you back from the emotional freedom you desire and deserve on the other side of the Terror Barrier.

The drawing below adapted from the work of Bob Proctor and excerpted from my (2011) Makeover Edition of Wealth Matters (the book) depicts what happens once the person reaches past the aspiration level of awareness and begins to take action and stretch their comfort zone by reasoning with a NEW IDEA/GOAL.

What the stickperson is illustrating is that in almost all cases (except falling or loud noise) THE “Terror Barrier” IS A MIRAGE that only limits us because we let it. The only way through the Terror Barrier is FAITH!

Faith is not something you get from religion. Faith comes from understanding. Faith comes first from a clearly communicated expectation, which becomes a belief after repeated and consistent expectation. Belief becomes faith after repeatedly finding evidence and understanding to believe.

Now you have an understanding that when you feel worry and doubt atthe conscious level, you need not sweat. It is truly a time to CELEBRATE, because your new IDEA/GOAL has successfully moved from a wish and dream in your Conscious Mind to the realm of your Subconscious Mind. Remember that the Subconscious Mind can only say “yes” to whatever you give the most emotional energy to.

Faith and doubt cannot exist at the same time any more than night and day can.

You will feel worry and doubt because your “y-type” idea will be battling with your “x-type” comfort zone conditioning and trying to replace it. The uncomfortable part is not in wanting the “y-type idea”, it is when you have to step forward in faith, believing in the physically unseen because you have an understanding that everything “is” moving from “thought” (spiritual equivalent) into “thing” (physical) form through the power of your mind.

Remember that worry is best described as the fear of future anger that a desired expectation won’t occur.

When you focus on faith in “y” then the worry and doubt will not vibrate as FEAR, and you willingly step through the Terror Barrier into FREEDOM because of that understanding!

Once you have successfully replaced the OLD “x” with the NEW “y” in your Subconscious Mind then your spirit will seek expression and fuller expansion again, and your “y” will become the new “x” in your newly updated comfort zone. That is the cycle of our spirit unfolding, and is the miracle of life and our ability to create and shape our reality!

Here are three takeaways to help you reframe fear and use it as a catalyst for FAITH to step through the Terror Barrier with confidence as you refocus your thought energy on the possibilities you will create from whatever comes at you externally:

1. Acknowledge the Fear

Fear gains power when it’s ignored or denied. By acknowledging it, you take the first step toward disarming its hold on you. Identify what exactly you’re afraid of—whether it’s financial insecurity, geopolitical instability, or something more personal. Writing it down can help you confront it directly.

2. Focus on Possibility, Not Catastrophe

Rather than fixating on worst-case scenarios, ask yourself, “What’s the best possible outcome if the thing you fear were to actually occur?” For instance, studies show that many fears—like financial collapse—are often based on exaggerated beliefs rather than actual likelihood. Shifting your focus to possibility can help diminish the grip of fear and foster a sense of optimism.

3. Take Small, Courageous Steps

Fear often paralyzes us because we think we have to make drastic changes all at once. But change starts with small, consistent actions. Whether you’re afraid of financial or geopolitical insecurity or personal failure, taking small steps in the right direction—can build confidence and momentum.

The antidote to fear is action. When you sit still, fear grows. When you take steps forward, fear recedes. Whether it’s tackling economic uncertainty or confronting personal anxieties, the more you act, the more you build faith in your ability to handle life’s inevitable challenges.

Conclusion

Our society is gripped by concerns over government corruption, economic stability, and personal safety. And this is a global issue not just a domestic one. Yet, the truth is that 91% of what we fear never comes to pass, and fear-based decisions are rarely the right ones.

The good news? You don’t have to remain trapped in the prison of fear. By acknowledging your fears, reframing them, and taking small, consistent steps, you can begin to break free from anxiety and through the Terror Barrier and move forward with faith and possibility.

Your Wealth Matters Weekend Questions to ponder

1. What fear is imprisoning you or holding you back this weekend? 2. What step can you take today to start moving toward freedom on the other side of your own Terror Barrier?

Have a great weekend!

---

Sources

1. The Top 10 Fears in America 2023 - Chapman University Survey of American Fears: Top 10 Fears

2. What Americans Fear Most: 2023 Fear Ranking - SafeHome.org: SafeHome Study

3. 91% of Worries Never Happen - HuffPost: The Reality of Worry

4. Breaking Through the Terror Barrier - Proctor Gallagher Institute: Terror Barrier Concept

5. Fear-Based Decisions - Psychology Today: Fear and Decision-Making

6. Public Speaking and Other Common Fears - YouGov: American Fear Poll

7. Haanel, Charles The Master Key System