Noted psychiatrist Jeffery Swartz in his work on obsessive control found that not only medicines curespeople, but that changes in thinking can change the chemistry of the brain as well. He found it possible by meditation and contemplation to make the brain less susceptible to fear. Blood flow can be detected in tests call SEPT studies. It is observable that blood flow lessens to areas where anxiety is developed and that fear centers of the brain slow up because of less blood. And it was shown that healthy, cognitive work can affect the parts of the brain positively that deal with safety and self-efficacy.

Peace and fearlessness are in great part the result of changes in thinking. Not only is thinking key, but acting is crucial as well. If a ministry or person acts out fearlessness soon they are fearless. If a ministry acts fearful, it becomes more fearful. Alcoholics Anonymous have a phrase that is used to push along a member’s recovery: “Fake it until you make it.” And this is exactly how developing an organizational life of courage looks.

Sensibly taking measured steps of courage can turn around a group’s fear level. If leaders and boards operate off worst-case scenarios, their acting out of fear creates more fear. Destroying fear requires serious work. It requires the following:

• STOP FEARFUL TALK AND STOP FEARFUL ACTING
• THINKING AND TALKING COURAGEOUSLY
• FINDING WAYS TO ACT COURAGEOUSLY