What do you fear?

I got a news release today from a PR firm pitching a column from an "empowerment expert" (whatever that means) on how to overcome fear. The author, a former master Air Force sergeant named Eldonna Lewis-Fernandez — also known as the "Pink Biker Chic," lists 11 fears that she says commonly hold people back from achieving their goals.

Among the commonly held fears she lists in the piece are: Fear of success, fear of leading, fear of speaking, fear of power, fear of being alone, and fear of failure. 

The last one is the only one I think most of us have in common. Fear of success? How many of us really fear that? Not me. 

This is all way too broad for me. The stuff I fear is a bit more real and closer to home, and it varies from day to day and week to week. 

Here are a few things I currently fear:

• I fear the "supercommittee" will fail to come to an agreement, sending the stock market crashing and my 401K spiraling downward, just in time for Christmas.

• I fear the transmission will go out on my car just after the warranty expires.

• I fear grizzly bears and rattlesnakes.

• I fear my water softener has stopped working.

• I fear raw fish this far from the ocean.

• I fear small group "sharing" discussions at seminars and training sessions.

• I fear Cliff Clavin extroverts who talk loud and seem to know everything about anything, especially when they decide to run for office.

What do you fear?