“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” – Dale Carnegie
Do you find yourself avoiding actions that scare you?
Are you unable to take the next step because you are caught in a fear storm?
Yes, a fear storm is real! It is characterized by
- Anxiety of sufficient strength
- An inability to concentrate
- An overwhelmed mind
- Poor decision making and desperate or irrational action
And that is not all….
According to BJ Dohmann, leaders experience fear as they challenge old beliefs more frequently than those who follow. Although none of us can eliminate a fear storm, as Super Achievers, we must learn to master our emotions and navigate a fear storm.
This week in Unstoppable Mindset, I share what builds the invisible walls of fear that create your comfort zone and what you can do to begin to deconstruct those walls. Find out how I have learned to manage my anxiety and why living just beyond your comfort zone is the secret to managing fear.
Fear is universal: we have all experienced being held captive by the anxiety that often accompanies fear. Sometimes fear is a beneficial instinct that keeps us from harm. However, usually, it’s an inner voice that keeps us stuck, preventing us from getting what we want or becoming who we are to become. According to Loa Tzu, however, “there is no illusion greater than fear.”
As defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, the comfort zone means a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are no longer tested. Unfortunately, stress, anxiety, and fear soon follow when we risk stepping outside what we have coined our comfort zone. Consider that temptation to seek comfort allows fear to keep you stuck in the prison of your mind.
Here are the key steps I use to navigate fear and move beyond my comfort zone:
1- Fear Is Natural: It is a human trait to seek comfort. We resist stepping beyond our comfort zone, as it represents the areas in our life where we feel familiar, at ease and in control. To see fear as a natural response is to understand the moment you cast a vision or set a goal that requires you to stretch, learn and experience new things, you will meet the edge of your comfort zone. Fear is a sign that you are at the edge of your identity and all that is comfortable.
2- Reframe Fear: Rather than see fear as negative energy, it would be best to avoid, begin to relate to fear as a sign that you are on the right track and moving in the direction of your goals. Begin to use your fear as the stimulus and motivation to take action.
3- Embrace The Discomfort: Take a small step just beyond what’s comfortable and commit to navigating the discomfort. Once your new skills, lessons and experiences become somewhat relaxed and the fear begins to dissipate, take another step. As you continue to take these small steps, your comfort zone expands. Remember the words of Nelson Mandela: “The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
This week, when faced with fear, I invite you to stop, reframe and embrace fear as an opportunity to fuel creativity, growth and joy. Then, step into your fear, trusting that anything dropped into your heart and mind is indeed possible.