Fears: Are They Holding You Back?
Do you have fears that are keeping you from fulfilling a lifelong dream or goal?
I certainly did with changing careers and planning my upcoming travel itinerary around the world.
Here are 7 things I’ve learned about fear that may be useful to you on your journey:
It’s Normal: Expect fear to arise when you are stepping outside of your comfort zone. There is nothing wrong with you. It’s part of the human experience. Be kind and compassionate with yourself. Fear is also a useful feeling in times of real physical danger, pumping us with adrenaline to better protect ourselves.
It’s a Sensation: Fear is a sensation in your body that feels uncomfortable but can’t harm you if you just let it be. Try just feeling it in your body for 60-90 seconds at a time. For example, when I experience fear I feel pain in my joints, chest and knees. It is uncomfortable but it doesn’t harm me (although if I let it continue for too long it can cause chronic exhaustion).
Use Fear As a Red Flag: I like to use fear as a red flag to engage in a quick self-assessment. Is there something I really need to pay attention to for my safety, or is this something I want to move through to achieve my dream? It’s a useful feeling to pay attention to but not indulge in. When you indulge you get stuck.
Thoughts Can Create Fears: What we think determines how we feel. So if you are nursing the story “I’m going to fail and everyone will make fun of me,” you are going to feel fear in your body. Thoughts generate many of our fears - founded and unfounded.
Fear Keeps Us Stuck: How we feel determines how we behave and the results we create for ourselves. It can lead to inaction, procrastination, or subpar decision-making that sabotages our dreams. We are experts at crafting complex stories around our fears, giving them more weight than they deserve.
Move Towards Your Fear: Fear is something you want to start embracing and exploring. It can feel uncomfortable but it’s also amazing to overcome. Get curious about it. Take small steps and give yourself lots of love and compassion along the way. You can take action with fear by your side.
Your Breath is Your Best Friend: How you breathe determines how you feel mentally and physiologically. You can control how you feel by changing your breath. If you are feeling afraid, slow down the pace of your breath. Breath in and out through your nose at a rhythm that works for you. Try a breathing rhythm of 3 seconds inhaling and 3 seconds exhaling (or 4:4 or 5:5 rhythm). You can also try making your exhale longer than your inhale. Play around with it and see what works best for your body.
How might you apply a few of these concepts to your fears that might be sabotaging a dream or goal you’d like to work on? How might believing or embracing them change your trajectory? Get curious.
Email me, I’d love to know.
#fears #overcomefears #goalsetting #followyourdreams