My heart rate increased. I began to sweat. A tremble went through my body, followed by dizziness. Tears swelled up. Yes, there it was, or maybe not, a spider. Is this what arachnophobia feels like? Although my new buddy was not visible, I did see its almost unnoticeable web weaved delicately between the leaves of my new plant. The new plant looked beautiful among my other plant collections. But throughout the day, I could not help but think about my unwelcome guest.

Will it jump out at me? Does it want to play a nerve racking game of peek-a-boo with me? Will it crawl across my desk? Is it watching right now with its multiple eyes? Or, is it suffering from anthropophobia (the fear of humans)? As much as I have a respectful fear of spiders, perhaps I should review my article about being fearless. I spent an entire day determined to see if my new houseguest peered its eight tiny eyes through the foliage.

My day was filled with pockets of anxiety and the fear of what might happen. Scenarios began to fill my mind. Once or twice, or maybe three times, I thought of old movies of spiders taking over the world. Would I get bitten and turn to an amazing spider woman? Am I exaggerating a bit? Nonetheless, the day passed by with these swirling thoughts, and yet, no spider. I stopped to look several times, but my plant did not give up its new resident.

Experiencing an occasional moment of anxiety may take place in our lives. However, when anxiety controls one’s life, this may present a problem. Like the spider, we weave our own webs that tangle us and are difficult to remove. Fear and worry about what has not yet happened or what we think might happen, distracts us from moving forward and deters us from personal growth. Although a common Shakespearean phrase, it was Sir Walter Scott who coined the aphorism, “Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we start to deceive.” My anxiety and fear completely deceived me.

I learned and discovered ways to escape my WEB:

W – Worry has no value. You cannot expect to get anywhere by rocking in a rocking chair. Entertaining worrisome thoughts delays progress. Stopping unhealthy thoughts require intentionality and discipline, which comes with practice. The only benefit that may come from worrying is that it gives the opportunity to discover areas that need to be overcome.

E – Empowerment is your own energy. Fueling your mind, body, and soul with healthy habits will assist in combating fear and worry in a powerful way. Many of us are running on 86 octane at the pump. Why not spend the extra cents and run on premium. Do not sell yourself short. Invest the extra time and dedication in yourself. Fuel additives to consider: Physical exercise, healthy eating habits, meditation, journaling, practicing mindfulness, living in the present, deep breathing, prayer, and distracting the mind with joyful, positive activities. Fuel your body, mind, and soul with positive energy and you will be able to face uncomfortable situations with renewable energy.

B – Be brave. Do not worry. Take a moment, and ask, “Why am I worried?” “What is causing the worry?” Take the necessary steps to face and deal with the worry. Whether seeking information through self-help books or from a professional provider, the important avenue is to work on your personal growth and becoming braver.

After calming myself down, I was able to reestablish a focus on my writing. My situation became my inspiration for this article. There are fearful situations we all need to work on since we are all works in progress.

Taking a break from my writing, I decided to water all my other beautiful plants in my home. And there it was … another intricate web nestled among my 5-foot bamboo palm houseplant. I was not alone after all. I made the choice not to worry but to focus on something positive. As Cheryl Hayashi once stated, “The next time you see a spider web, please, pause and look a little closer. You’ll be seeing one of the most high-performance materials known to man.” This was a wow moment! I may turn into spider woman after all.

Diana Jaworski, F.O.C.U.S. Coaching Services, is a certified coach, teacher, trainer and speaker with Maxwell Leadership Certified Team. Learn more about personal growth by visiting her website at www.dianajaworski.com.