6 Steps to Move Through Fear

Our fear so often holds us back from being all that we were meant to be. We fear what tomorrow might bring, we fear rejection, we fear failure, we fear looking foolish, we fear stepping out of our comfort zone and doing something that might just impact our lives and our world in an incredible way.

We play it safe and sit on the sidelines forgetting that life is not a spectator sport. Rather than embracing each day with passion and purpose, we underestimate our strength, our ability, our resilience, our power to make a difference in the lives of others, and our power to make a difference in the world.

There is something uniquely special about each on of us, but we often hold ourselves back from the excellence that resides within. If we are to live up to our true potential and be the person that we were created to be, we must find a way to move through the fear that keeps us immobilized and stops us from building positive momentum in our lives.

Listed below are 6 steps to help you move through the fear so that you can live a more productive, passionate, and purposeful life. (Notice the phrase “move through the fear” is used instead of “fight fear.” This is intentional. You see, many people fight fear by denying fear, and when something is denied, it won’t be changed. See step one.)

Step 1

Become aware: Stop what you are doing long enough to become mindful of what it is you really fear. You can’t change anything that you are not willing to acknowledge. You may have come up with all kinds of different reasons for not doing something, without ever realizing that your procrastination is rooted in fear. When you find yourself making excuses for not doing or completing something, look behind the excuse and see if you can find the fear involved in your endeavor.

Step 2

Know that a fear of rejection is universal: Although some of us fear rejection more than others, everyone fears rejection to some degree. Let’s face it- It just doesn’t feel good! Knowing that you are not alone can help reduce your fear. Just remember, the people who are thriving feel fear just like you. The only difference may be their willingness to step out of their comfort zone and put up with the temporary anxiety that this creates.

Step 3

Practice: The more you do something, the more comfortable it gets. The first time may feel excruciating, the second time hard, but if you keep it up, your fear will begin to dissolve. If you do anything enough, it will eventually become routine, and you will have desensitized yourself to that which you fear.

Step 4

Take baby steps: Go slow. If you fear public speaking, start by speaking to a group of five and later a group of ten. If you fear going on a job interview, set up a mock interview with friends. What ever it is you fear, start small and build your way up.

Step 5

Identify the worst case scenario: What is the worst thing that can happen if you step out and do the thing you fear? Will people laugh at you? Will you lose your job? Will you be abandoned? Will you shake and sweat? Will you survive? If you can handle it, than you may want to proceed. Measure the pros of getting what you want out of life with the consequences of taking that fearful step.

Step 6

Fight fear with faith: If you have a strong passion and purpose in your heart, move through the fear by having faith that you are becoming the people you were meant to be. You were not designed to live a life of mediocrity. You have something special to contribute to society. Have faith that you do have a purpose. You are the only one holding you back.

Whether the information in this post creates an aha moment for you or is just a simple reminder, I hope it helps in some way. Live it! Share it! If we all moved through our fear and replaced it with service and compassion the world would be a better place.

Have a great day!

Kristin

Note: Some fears are complex and are the result of trauma. In this case, it is best to work through the fear with a mental health professional.