“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie
Is fear standing between you and where you want to be?
Do your fears intimidate you and obscure your judgment?
Sadly, the fear that 2020 is off to a bad start is a common sentiment and that fear only seems to increase every time another bad thing happens. There isn’t a single person on the planet who is immune to fear. To be human means to feel emotions and be affected by our thoughts which can lead us to lose track of our dreams. According to Loa Tzu however, “there is no illusion greater than fear.”
The real question is HOW do you MANAGE fear? Watch my video as I discuss FEAR! Come explore the benefits of fear and why learning to manage fear is the secret to propelling your business forward. Imagine a life where you embrace your fears to fuel creativity, growth and joy.
It is said that leaders and entrepreneurs experience the most fear because both require they push the envelope and get out of their comfort zone. To achieve success leaders are required to manage a host of emotions while navigating the responsibility of being accountable for our decisions and actions. Under such pressure, it’s natural to have worries and fears.
Are you caught in this fear storm?
A fear storm can be characterized by intense and paralyzing fear. When you are in the grip of fear, you will often find yourself in procrastination, avoidance or justification. Words like “I can’t, it’s not the right time, I don’t have the money,” are all the things we tell ourselves. The cost and impact of not taking action may be anger, depression, or resignation. Fear also decreases energy and stops your creativity. Why? Because this negative dialogue fuels doubt and escalates the fear. You are now caught in a fear storm.
The key steps of getting out of the storm are:
1- Be willing to ride out your fear. This is to stop, accept and surrender to the emotion of fear. I recommend that you avoid taking any action when you’re in the middle of fear. Instead, you want to actually ride it out. To do so you must first acknowledge that you are experiencing fear and sit with the emotions.
2- Listen to your internal dialogue. The conversation running in your head will often give you insight into the concerns and questions you need to address. Getting your questions and concerns answered is often the first step to manage your fear and navigate the resistance. Taking steps to find solutions and manage risk allows you to begin to manage the fear.
3- Taking focused action. Information is power and the act of assessing risk and getting questions answered is often what is needed to help manage fear and calm the storm. Although fear will not disappear, understanding risk most often is what is needed to be able to take action. Taking informed action in the face of fear will build confidence, self-worth, belief in self and certainty. Deciding to not take action once a true risk assessment is done can be equally beneficial because the decision was not made while gripped with fear, rather the decision was a product of a clear assessment and a response to the data.
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” -Nelson Mandela
This week, when you’re faced with fear, I invite you to stop, examine the data and assess the risk. Then, step into your fear believing that anything that’s been dropped into your heart and your mind is truly possible.