Use Fear to Get You Moving

The biggest trap keeping people from taking action is being afraid.

And boy are there many things to be scared of. Fear of not fitting in, fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of fear itself …The list is endless.

Having the jitters can be useful to a certain extent. I’ve learned to ask myself what fear – or any emotion for that matter – is really trying to tell me. Sometimes having anxiety is an indication of getting ready and preparing for something new. Other times that angsty emotion is trying to show me a safe way to work my way through a tricky situation.

Panic mode can also work against us. It paralyzes, shuts us down and makes us back away from trying. We make decisions based on many things, but emotions and how we feel about stuff is the biggest defining factor in making choices. When fear drives our decisions, we deprive ourselves from possibly life changing opportunities.

To achieve something unique is to take risks. It calls for becoming friends with failure and giving unlikely situations a chance. It’s about becoming more terrified about all the beautiful things we might miss out on if we don’t get the ball rolling.  

All you really need to do is try and do something. Giving it a go creates a chain reaction. Action brings in information and eventually answers. Answers create a sense of direction. And direction gives meaning. Easier said than done, but certainly helps me stay focused when I start overthinking too much.

Regret doesn’t seem like an exciting long -term companion. What dreams would you be able to fulfill is you weren’t so afraid?