How to Face Fear and Live Courageously
Having courage does not mean you are fearless.
Fearlessness implies you are not afraid of something, while courage means you pursue what you want despite that fear.
To deny fear is to deny a part of the human experience because fear exists as the mind’s way of trying to protect you. However, the mind can tell us stories that aren’t true if we’re not careful, and that’s when we get caught in a cycle of self-doubt and limiting beliefs.
Courage is the way to recognize your fear and do that thing you want to do anyway, and that’s one way to let go of those limiting myths in your mind.
The next time you feel fear coming on, here’s a way to come out courageous:
When a “what if” thought pops up, recognize it as an intrusive thought that does not hold truth. Instead, it’s based on a story you have told yourself. Tell your mind, “thank you for trying to protect me. I’ve got this.” Then, empower yourself to do the thing.
What that “thing” is, is up to you, but here are common fears I’ve heard over the years when it comes to entrepreneurialism:
“I’m not built to work on my own.”
“Working for myself would be too hard.”
“I wouldn’t have stability as an entrepreneur.”
When you define fear as an intrusive thought, it’s easier to see them as things we tell ourselves to stay complacent with because complacency is familiar. But, familiarity does not equal happiness because it doesn’t provide space to challenge yourself.
Career-based fears tend to be rooted in fear of failure. But what is failure anyway? Something that did not work out the way you imagined? Because let me tell you, what actually happens when you take the entrepreneurial leap is something better. Your first sale might not go as planned. You might uncover inner work to do. You might have to find new strengths. But, when you work for yourself, you become more empowered to test your limits, learning more about yourself and your abilities than you ever thought possible.
So, wouldn’t you rather answer fears with the courage to take a chance on yourself? Through courage, you make bolder decisions that bring you to the life you want.
Try this exercise:
Journal your primary fears.
They’re in the back of your mind, so give them form. It’s like a giant, scary shadow you see as a kid. When you turn the lights on, it turns out that shadow was not so frightening at all–maybe it’s just a mouse on its way to sneak a cracker. You automatically take away some of their power when you name your fears.
Do some inner digging.
Find out where that fear comes from. As I mentioned, fear usually results from a story we’ve told ourselves, often from a childhood experience. Name that story and you also relinquish some of its power.
Write a new ending.
In that same journal entry, tell yourself the true thing you need to hear to reduce that fear even further. If it’s, “I could never cold sell” because you were once rejected selling Girl Scout Cookies to a neighbor as a kid, you could say: “That was a one-time circumstance and has nothing to do with my selling abilities. I have the power to empathize and problem-solve, and that’s part of what selling is.” This new ending will serve as your beginning as you courageously put that truth into practice.
You have new emotional tools to build your business. Now you just need to know where to start. Join my like-minded community to learn how to work online on your terms and enjoy financial and location freedom along the way.