Fear. A natural and common human emotion that can sometimes hold you back from pursuing your dreams, goals and following your heart . Maybe it's fear of failure, a fear of the unknown, or a fear of rejection. Fear can keep you stuck in your comfort zone.
However, with the right mindset and the right tools, it is possible to overcome fear and take the right action towards your dreams. Once you get to this place, it doesn’t mean the fear goes away, it means you now have the ability to push past the fear, to move through it. To recognise that it is a common and natural feeling, and that all feelings are worthy.
Maybe the fear will actually support you in where you want to go next?
If you feel that fear is a powerful emotion in your life, here are some practical steps to help you move through and take action:
- Name your fears: This is the most crucial and first step. Identify what you are afraid of, name it. Give it its own space. Write down what your fear is. Once you have a clear understanding of what you're afraid of, you can start to develop strategies to overcome it.
- Reframe your mindset: Instead of thinking of fear as a negative emotion, reframe your mindset to see it as a common emotion, and an opportunity for growth. Fear can be a sign that you're stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself. And this is good. Embrace this feeling as a sign that you're on the right track to moving towards your dreams.
- Take small steps: Overcoming fear doesn't have to happen overnight. Start by taking small steps towards your goals. Break down your dreams and goals into manageable action steps. Focus on taking one step at a time. Take a little action everyday. Momentum and moving forward is what is important, not taking giant leaps. Taking small steps can help build your confidence, it can help you see progress, and this will inspire you to keep going.
- Visualise success: Visualisation is a powerful tool that can help you overcome fear and take action. Take some time to visualise yourself achieving reaching the destination, sitting in the glow of achievement and the happiness of success. Imagine how it will feel when you get there. Keep this feeling with you, try to access it whenever you need a little extra boost. This can help motivate you to take those small steps each day and overcome your fears
- Ask for help: Surround yourself with people who support and encourage you. Talk to friends, family, or a mentor about where you want to be and what you feel is holding you back. Sometimes an emotion shared is an emotion halved. And so often others look at things from a different angle, their thoughts can help you reframe the fear and maybe gain a new understanding from a different space.
- Take action: The best way to overcome fear is to take action, to take those small steps, to get started; today. Make a plan, set out a realistic timeframe, break the dream down into small stages; and take the first step. Even if it's a small step, it's still progress. Keep taking action, day after day. Make taking action a habit, not a big task. Be patient with yourself, stay focused on your dream, take small steps. And before you realise you will have made huge progress and will look back with pride at how far you have come.