Stop Being Afraid
Achieve Greatness
Fear. Everyone has it, and everyone experienced it. But only a handful of people actually faced it and overcame it.
But why? Why are we so afraid? Afraid of making a change, afraid of taking action, afraid of failure. Is there some secret that the top 1% holds from the others when it comes to overcoming fear?
What Is Fear?
Fear can take on an infinite number of forms. For some of us, fear can be represented by specific events like meeting new people, public speaking, or starting a business. For others, fear can be evoked by different kinds of creatures like snakes, spiders, or insects.
Regardless of the image of our fear, it holds us back in a given situation, in which we often feel stressed, paralyzed and unable to take action. So, naturally, we tend to avoid those situations in the future.
When it comes to fear, we need to understand that fear is a natural emotional response to perceived threats, dangers in our environment, circumstances, or discomfort.
It is completely normal to feel afraid. At the end of the day, emotions are what makes us human.
Take Responsibility
From our perspective, it might seem like that the most successful people are not afraid of anything. That they were born without fear and that it is the reason for their success and our failure (or at least stagnation).
I am here to tell you that EVERYONE fears something, including the top 1%. The difference lies in how we choose to deal with fear, how we respond to it, and the actions we take despite feeling afraid. It is the ability to confront and conquer our fears so we can truly grow and achieve our goals.
You just have to be honest with yourself in acknowledging and naming your fears. Only then you can face them and overcome them.
The only catch is conquering your fears cannot be achieved by anyone but yourself.
Sacrifices
Depending on the nature of our fears, we may find ourselves affected by them regularly or hardly ever. Some fears may have a significant impact on our daily lives, others are somewhere far away.
Based on the different kinds of fears we experience, we often impose limitations on ourselves, restricting us from various activities.
In an attempt to avoid uncomfortable situations, we always have to make sacrifices which can, same as the fear itself, have various forms.
This is where the measurement of comfort in relation to the potential outcome comes into play. You have to compare what you are getting from doing nothing to taking action.
For example, if I fear being eaten by a polar bear, I sacrifice the enjoyment of fishing in the Arctic. If I fear starting my own business, I sacrifice potential financial freedom. You need to evaluate what sacrifices are worth fighting for.
For instance, if the fear of being eaten by a polar bear keeps you from fishing in the Arctic, you sacrifice the unique experiences and some fish. Similarly, if the fear of starting your own business hinders you, you sacrifice the potential for financial freedom.
It is crucial to evaluate what sacrifices are worth fighting for.
The Final Step
Once you have identified your fear, measured the potential outcomes, and assessed the comfort of your current situation, there is still one more crucial step to do: execution.
Let’s say you have carefully weighed all the pros and cons, and you have reached the conclusion that your life would indeed improve if you succeeded. At this point, it might seem obvious that you should take the action. Yet, most people choose not to.
They lack the urge to act.
And it makes sense. We want certainty in our life and jumping to the unknown is quite the opposite of certainty.
If you want a better life, pursue your goals and achievements whether you feel afraid or not. Don’t let your emotions ruin your life and make the final step even if it is scary.
It is always worth it, you might just not see it that way yet.
Conclusion
If you still find yourself lacking motivation to explore new experiences, I encourage you to shift your perspective. Instead of solely considering “what am I gaining from this opportunity” also reflect on “what am I missing out on by staying in the same place”.
I would like to leave you with a powerful excerpt from a speech by Jim Rohn, where he emphasizes that a risk-free life doesn’t exist:
The moment you were born — it was risky
If you think trying is risky — wait until they hand you the bill of regret for not trying
If you think investment is risky — wait till you get the tab for not investing
If you think saving is risky — wait till you need savings for something urgent and you have very little
It’s all risky.
Getting married is risky. Having children is risky. Going into business is risky. Changing jobs is risky.
It’s all risky.
I’ll tell you how risky life is — You are not gonna get out alive
— Jim Rohn
Good luck in facing your fears!
