Where Fear Holds You Back
- Jun 14, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 15
9 Ways to Push Beyond Fear & Develop A Growth Mindset
The three enemies of personal growth and success are indecision, doubt, and fear. These three states of mind are to blame for a large part of why some people “fail” in life. Indecision breeds doubt and fear, but in this article, we are going to focus on fear as it relates to personal growth and success. In fact, we are going to share 9 ways anyone, (yes that means you!), can push beyond fear to achieve great things in life.
But how did we get here? How did we get to a point to where fear is so prevalent? Fearlessness is not what we should hope to achieve because a certain level of fear is vital in response to real-life dangers. At one point in time fear was necessary for the immediate survival of our species, but in today’s day and age perceived dangers have changed.
Nowadays, common fears include fear of heights, flying, closed spaces, clowns, illness, losing loved ones, death, public speaking, and a long list of more. However, the persistent fears we want to address in the article are the self-sabotaging ones that stall personal success. These include fear of failure, fear of inadequacy, fear of uncertainty, fear of imperfections, and even fear of success.
Have you ever heard the saying “fear is false evidence appearing real"? In this fear-mongering society, it's easy to understand why so many folks fall victim to many phobias that are false evidence appearing real.
What is Fear?
Fear is the biggest roadblock to success. Fear is bondage. Fear stands in the way of greatness. But the truth is, fear is a constant companion if you’re attempting to grow and achieve anything worthwhile in life. Success itself can be scary for some.
The most successful people are often those that manage fear most effectively. Those that manage fear poorly are often the least successful. Learning to push beyond fear is a valuable skill that greatly increases your odds of success.
Fear is an unpleasant feeling triggered by the perception of danger, real or imagined. Many fears are learned behavior albeit it because of previous events, or others projecting their fears onto another person. With all the stressors beyond our control in real life, adding unfounded fear to the equation does no good.
Fear is a state of mind and Think & Grow Rich author Napoleon Hills says “a state of mind cannot be purchased, it must be created.” This state of mind triggers thought impulses, and when that occurs, our minds immediately begin to translate that thought into its physical equivalent.
In thinking persistently about the fear of failure, for example, the thought impulse begins to translate to some sort of obstacle created in the mind which can cause overthinking, self-doubt, and ultimately inaction. Simply thinking about failing can make it easier for one to create a self-fulfilling prophecy in which they do in fact fail. This in turn validates the original fear and perpetuates this cycle that does not serve you.
Fear responses are real. In fact, they trigger chemical responses in your brain telling your body to fight, flight or freeze. Fear leads to doubt, worry, over-caution, lack of initiative, lack of ambition, inferiority complex, fault finding, and procrastination.
This is why it is so important that we do something to end this vicious cycle that keeps you and so many others from achieving your wildest goals and dreams.
Before we share the 9 ways you can push beyond your fears, we want to first make sure you are confident in identifying them. That’s the path to moving forward despite fear
How to Identify what you fear.
First off, you gotta be real with yourself. Recognize that you do not fear nothing. That’s preposterous. Everyone fears something. Instead, be truthful in that which you are afraid of. To push past the fear, you must first honestly identify your greatest fears because they are ultimately what hold you back from achieving greatness.
Face the facts squarely. Ask yourself definite questions that allow you to learn more about yourself. You could ask yourself, what am I most afraid of? Is this fear serving me in any positive capacity? Why am I so afraid of {insert fear}? Am I afraid of failure? Am I afraid of making mistakes? Am I afraid of being successful?
Dive deep within. Be as impartial as you can when replying to these questions, and if you cannot call upon someone to help you sort through these thoughts until you get down to the bottom of why these fears exist.
Now that you are well on your way to identifying what you are most afraid of we’d like to offer you help in conquering those fear that keeps you back from achieving your God-given potential.
"Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it." – Judy Blume
Here are 9 Ways in which you can push past your fears and achieve personal success
Feel free to include personal details and examples. The more relatable you or your website is, the more you connect with your readers.
1. Control your thoughts.
It’s possible to think about anything you choose. The best way to stress yourself is to think about stressful things. You’re not more effective when you’re afraid. You’re less. That doesn’t mean you should bury your head in the sand, but put yourself in a frame of mind that makes you most able to deal with the situation.
2. Consider the Worst.
Take a moment to consider the worst likely outcome. Can you handle it? Can you maneuver in a way that makes the worst outcome manageable? If you know you can handle the worst, there’s no reason to be afraid.
Be prepared for the worst and you’ll find it rarely occurs.
3. Breathe.
Focus on your breath and slow your mind. Your mind will take reality and run wild with it. Focusing on your breath will calm your mind, and reality remains. When stress is at your doorstep, just stop and breathe.
4. Imagine a positive outcome.
Raise the level of your expectations. Your fear will melt away if you expect something positive to happen. Create a future that you find exciting and visualize your fear away.
· Repeat this exercise several times a day. Eventually, you’ll begin to believe it.
5. Exercise.
Physical exertion is an excellent way to burn away your fear. It’s hard to feel afraid when you’re exhausted!
Go for a quick run, a long walk, or lift weights. When you’re pleasantly out of breath, you’ll find your fear has lessened.
6. Get Support.
Talk to a friend or a mentor. Be choosy! Some of your friends and family are more supportive than others. Find someone going through the same thing and console each other. Online forums can be helpful, and you can remain anonymous.
7. Understand that change and fear go hand in hand.
There’s a reason to be excited when you’re afraid: It’s very possible that you’re at the beginning of a great change in your life.
Nothing seems to change when you’re comfortable 100% of the time. Be excited that you’re doing something that creates feelings of fear. Your life may be about to change for the better.
8. Make a list of the benefits of moving forward.
Create a long list of the positive results that could result from being brave. Give yourself several reasons to motivate yourself. For example, if you’re starting a new business:
· Create a greater income.
· Do something you love.
· Finally realize your dream of being an entrepreneur.
· Not to mention you’ll have the amazing experience of overcoming your fear!
9. Do It Anyway.
Fear is a lousy reason for not doing something. It’s not a good excuse, though it is a socially acceptable one. Be brave and resolve to do the thing you fear. It will be easier the next time. Build your tolerance to fear by facing fear daily.
Fear is a self-imposed roadblock on the path to progress
Developing the skill to handle fear appropriately is necessary to move forward in any aspect of life. When you feel fear, you’re on the verge of making a significant change in your life. Get excited!
Remember, there is no freedom in living in fear. Fear can be debilitating, paralyzing, and demoralizing. The fears we hope to help our folk overcome include fear of success or failure, fear of making mistakes, and fear of imperfection. Try these 9 ways to help you in coping with the day-to-day fears that keep you from growing on purpose.
As always here at BeU we are happy to see you grow authentically.
If this article helps you to understand how you can push beyond fear, then surely you may know someone else that could use the tips we share here.
Share this article, and get some good juju in the process.
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Meet The Author
Precious Dillard is the owner of BeU Life Coaching & Branding, a business dedicated to helping creative entrepreneurs build authentic, purpose-driven brands from the inside out. With a background in brand strategy, content creation, and creative thinking, Precious is a forward-thinking visionary who’s passionate about guiding entrepreneurs to brand clarity and growth.
In addition to her expertise in branding, Precious holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Health Science and is a certified Family and Business Mediation and Entrepreneurship professional. As a Navy veteran with experience as an Aviation Electronics and Calibration Technician, Precious brings a disciplined, results-oriented approach to her work.
At BeU, Precious helps entrepreneurs define their unique brand identity, position their businesses for success, and connect with their ideal audiences in authentic ways. With a mission to empower creative minds to stay true to their purpose, she blends strategic direction, personal development, and practical execution to create brands that resonate.
Join Precious and the BeU community as we grow and elevate authentic brands, one creative entrepreneur at a time.
Disclaimer:
I am not a licensed psychologist or specialist healthcare professional. My services do not replace the care of psychologists or other mental healthcare professionals. Please note that I can’t take any responsibility for the results of your actions, and any harm or damage you suffer as a result of the use, or non-use, of the information available at www.beulifecoaching.com. Please use judgment and conduct due diligence before taking any action or implementing any plan or practice suggested or recommended on this website and any supplemental material provided. Please note that I don’t make any guarantees about the results of the information applied on this website. I share educational and informational resources that are intended to help you succeed in personal growth and development. You nevertheless need to know that your ultimate success or failure will be the result of your own efforts, your particular situation, and innumerable other circumstances beyond my knowledge and control.
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